PURE-COTE® Corn Starches

PURE-COTE modified starches are food grade starches that have been specially modified to produce clear, flexible films. These films can be used in food, agricultural, cosmetic, or pharmaceutical applications, including aqueous film coating. PURE-COTE modified starches can be used as the primary or secondary film former in the formulation. Plasticizers and, depending on the formula, detackifiers may also be used in the coating. Finished coatings are water soluble, clear, and have good sheen.

PURE-COTE modified starches function very well as secondary film formers in aqueous film coating suspensions where hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, methylcellulose, or other polymers are used as the primary film former. Addition of PURE-COTE products can improve economics while maintaining coating quality. Quantities of PURE-COTE starch as a secondary film former may range from 5%-45% of the nonwater ingredients in the formula. In these formulas, the primary film-forming polymers may be used at levels of 25%-95% of the nonaqueous ingredients in the coating suspension.

Viscosity of the aqueous coating suspension will not only affect the final coating, but can significantly change the coating process parameters. PURE-COTE starches are available in high and low viscosities to provide formulating options. This allows the formulator to achieve the desired solids content at a particular viscosity.

PURE-COTE starches can be easily dispersed in cold water, then heated to fully hydrate the starch. A typical slurry of 5%-12% starch in water should be heated to a minimum of 160°F and held for 10 minutes or more. The addition of other ingredients in the starch slurry, or varying the processing conditions, i.e., high shear, can affect the time and temperature required to fully hydrate the starch.

Grain Processing Corporation, 1600 Oregon Street, Muscatine, IA 52761. Tel: 563-264-4265; Fax: 563-264-4289.