SAYATEX is an oxidized starch derived from maize or tapioca starches. It is granular white in color and has moisture content of 12 to 14%. Microscopically, SAYATEX closely resembles the unmodified starch, with the typical reaction of staining blue with iodine solution.
The outstanding characteristics of SAYATEX starch is that the pasting results rapidly, at a lower temperature, and the starch paste exhibits a greater degree of fluidity and clarity than that of unmodified starches. Upon aging, the tendency towards retrogradation (characteristic of most starches ) is eliminated to a great extent due to the presence of functional groups. The film produced from SAYATEX is strongly adherent, continuous and clear as compared to the brittle and opaque films obtained with unmodified starches.