In this study, a soft and thermoplastic starch with an improved ageing-resistant property was prepared by melt blending method for a biodegradable biomaterial. The glycerol content varies from 30 to 60 wt %. The aging temperature and humidity of the glycerol-plasticized thermoplastic starch (GTPS) was 37 degrees C and 50 +/- 5 RH %, respectively. The retrogradation was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and the stress-strain mechanical properties. The XRD results suggest that high content of glycerol promotes the formation of single helix structure of V-type, but inhibits double helix structure of B-type. Changing of the tan delta, storage modules (P), and the glass transition temperatures as a function of glycerol content and ageing time was detected by DMTA. FUR result shows that the shifting speed of the peak of hydroxyl group stretching fell as the glycerol content increased. The glycerol content has no obvious effect on the mechanical properties when it is high enough. Results from all characterizations demonstrate that the ageing speed is closely relative to the plasticizers content. The higher content of glycerol possesses an obviously inhibitory effect on the ageing. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 574-586, 2007