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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Plant Polymer Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #218189
Title: Effects of Soy Protein Nanoparticle Aggregate Size on the Viscoelastic Properties of Styrene-Butadiene Composites

Author
item Jong, Lei
item Peterson, Steven - Steve

Submitted to: Composites Part A Applied Science and Manufacturing
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/5/2008
Publication Date: 11/1/2008
Citation: Jong, L., Peterson, S.C. 2008. Effects of Soy Protein Nanoparticle Aggregate Size on the Viscoelastic Properties of Styrene-Butadiene Composites. Composites Part A Applied Science and Manufacturing. 39(11):1768-1777.

Interpretive Summary: Soy protein is a soy product after soy carbohydrate is removed from defatted soy flour. In many rubber related applications, rubber products are filled with reinforcement materials. The aggregate size of filler has a significant effect on rubber modulus. Previously, we have used soy protein isolate to increase significantly the strength of rubber composites. The new development is to change the aggregate size and measure its structure and function in rubber composites. The results indicate that the elasticity of the rubber composites is increased when the aggregate size of soy protein is reduced. This development will be of general interest to technologists developing new rubber products and will be beneficial to soybean farmers by creating new markets for soybean products.

Technical Abstract: Soy protein nanoparticle aggregates were prepared by alkaline hydrolysis of soy protein isolate (SPI). Light scattering measurements indicated a narrow size distribution of SPI aggregates. Nanocomposites were formed by mixing hydrolyzed SPI (HSPI) nanoparticle aggregates with styrene-butadiene (SB) latex. At 140 deg C, the composites filled with 30% HSPI exhibited roughly a 540-fold and 9-fold increase in G’ compared to the unfilled SB rubber for the composites prepared at pH 9 and 5.2, respectively. Compared to SPI, the glass transition temperatures and the broadening effect of G” maxima indicated that HSPI has a stronger filler-polymer interaction and is more homogeneous in its polymer immobilization effect. Strain sweep and recovery experiments indicated HSPI filled composites had better modulus retention than SPI composites. Composites prepared at pH 5.2 had better modulus retention than those prepared at pH 9 with the exception of the 30% filled SPI composites. The model fitting of the reversible strain sweep data indicated that HSPI composites are more elastic, while SPI composites have a higher shear modulus. The model fitting also indicates the composites prepared at pH 5.2 are more elastic, but the composites prepared at pH 9 have a higher modulus. Fractal dimensions estimated from the strain sweep and temperature sweep experiments are in a good agreement and indicate HSPI has a more compact aggregate structure than SPI aggregates.