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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Albany, California » Western Regional Research Center » Bioproducts Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #174536

Title: THERMOFORMED BIOPOLYMERS FROM WHEAT PROTEIN

Author
item Pallos, Ferenc
item Robertson, George
item PAVLATH, ATTILA - WRRC COLLABORATOR

Submitted to: United States Japan Natural Resources Protein Panel
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/1/2005
Publication Date: 2/1/2005
Citation: Pallos, F.M., Robertson, G.H., Pavlath, A.E. 2004. Thermoformed biopolymers from wheat protein. In: Proceedings of the United States-Japan Cooperative Program in Natural Resources. December 11-18, 2004, Honolulu, HI. p.72-75.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Wheat gluten can be thermoformed under chemically reductive conditions into pliable, translucent sheets. These are inherently biodegradable in contrast to synthetic, petroleum based packaging films. Linear deformation resistance of these polymers was comparable to or even greater than polypropylene between 30-70% relative humidity. However, at lower humidity the resistance increased and the polymer became brittle and above 70% the resistance decreased. We investigated the use of various additives and methods to improve gluten polymer properties and expand the range of humidity for which the polymer exhibited stable properties. We found that a thin surface layer of polyurethane reduced brittleness at 6% RH, but did not prevent loss of resistance above 75% RH.