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Biodegradable Fiber-Reinforced Gluten Biocomposites for Replacement of Fossil-Based Plastics.

ABSTRACT: Biocomposites based on wheat gluten and reinforced with carbon fibers were produced in line with the strive to replace fossil-based plastics with microplastic-free alternatives with competing mechanical properties. The materials were first extruded/compounded and then successfully injection molded, making the setup adequate for the current industrial processing of composite plastics. Furthermore, the materials were manufactured at very low extrusion and injection temperatures (70 and 140 °C, respectively), saving energy compared to the compounding of commodity plastics. The sole addition of 10 vol % fibers increased yield strength and stiffness by a factor of 2-4 with good adhesion to the protein. The biocomposites were also shown to be biodegradable, lixiviating into innocuous molecules for nature, which is the next step in the development of sustainable bioplastics. The results show that an industrial protein coproduct reinforced with strong fibers can be processed using common plastic processing techniques. The enhanced mechanical performance of the reinforced protein-based matrix herein also contributes to research addressing the production of safe materials with properties matching those of traditional fossil-based plastics.

SUBMITTER: Capezza AJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10785611 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Biodegradable Fiber-Reinforced Gluten Biocomposites for Replacement of Fossil-Based Plastics.

Capezza Antonio J AJ Bettelli Mercedes M Wei Xinfeng X Jiménez-Rosado Mercedes M Guerrero Antonio A Hedenqvist Mikael M

ACS omega 20231201 1

Biocomposites based on wheat gluten and reinforced with carbon fibers were produced in line with the strive to replace fossil-based plastics with microplastic-free alternatives with competing mechanical properties. The materials were first extruded/compounded and then successfully injection molded, making the setup adequate for the current industrial processing of composite plastics. Furthermore, the materials were manufactured at very low extrusion and injection temperatures (70 and 140 °C, res ...[more]

PMID: 38222641

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Project description:Carbon fiber reinforced composites have exceptional potential to play a key role in the materials world of our future. However, their success undoubtedly depends on the extent they can contribute to advance a global sustainability objective. Utilizing polymers in these composites that can be potentially derived from biomasses would be certainly vital for next-generation manufacturing practices. Nevertheless, deep understanding and tailoring fiber-matrix interactions are crucial issues in order to design carbon fiber reinforced sustainable resource-based biocomposites. In this study, cellulose derivatives (cellulose propionate and cellulose acetate butyrate) are utilized as model polymer matrices that can be potentially fabricated from biomasses, and the mechanical properties of the prepared short carbon fiber reinforced composites are engineered by means of a functional biobased lignin coating on the fiber surface. Furthermore, polyamide 6 based composites are also prepared, the monomer of this polymer could be obtained using C6 sugars derived from lignocellulosic biomasses in the future (through 5-hydroxymethylfurfural). Lignin was successfully immobilized on the carbon fiber surface via an industrially scalable benign epoxidation reaction. The surface modification had a beneficial impact on the mechanical properties of cellulose propionate and polyamide 6 composites. Furthermore, our results also revealed that cellulose-based matrices are highly sensitive to the presence of rigid fiber segments that restrict polymer chain movements and facilitate stress development. It follows that the physicochemical properties of the cellulosic matrices (molecular weight, crystallinity), associated with polymer chain mobility, might need to be carefully considered when designing these composites. At the same time, polyamide 6 showed excellent ability to accommodate short carbon fibers without leading to a largely brittle material, in this case, a maximum tensile strength of ~136 MPa was obtained at 20 wt% fiber loading. These results were further contrasted with that of a petroleum-based polypropylene matrix exhibiting inferior mechanical properties. Our study clearly indicates that carbon fiber reinforced polymers derived and designed using biomass-derived resources can be promising green materials for a sustainable future.

Dataset Information

Biodegradable Fiber-Reinforced Gluten Biocomposites for Replacement of Fossil-Based Plastics.

Publications

Biodegradable Fiber-Reinforced Gluten Biocomposites for Replacement of Fossil-Based Plastics.

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