Energy crisis and environment pollution make biodegradable plastics a significant research orientation to substitute for petroleum materials. Starch plastics become one of research emphasis of biodegradable plastics due to the non-toxic

low cost and biodegradable characteristics of starch. The properties of starch plastics will be easily influenced by the moisture

oxygen

ultraviolet light and flame of combustion in the environment. Studying how to reduce and eliminate these effects is assumed as "barrier properties". According to different inorganic substances

we mainly reviewed the effect of inorganic substances including oxide

metal salt etc on the barrier properties

which contain water resistance

flame retardancy

oxygen permeability and anti-ultraviolet properties of starch plastics. The latest research progress

problems are summarized in this paper; the trend in future is also proposed.