Options to Improve the Mechanical Properties of Protein-Based Materials
While bio-based but chemically synthesized polymers such as polylactic acid require industrial conditions for biodegradation, protein-based materials are home compostable and show high potential for disposable products that are not collected. However, so far, such materials lack in their mechanical...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Molecules |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/27/2/446 |
| _version_ | 1797491572049182720 |
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| author | Anne Lamp Martin Kaltschmitt Jan Dethloff |
| author_facet | Anne Lamp Martin Kaltschmitt Jan Dethloff |
| author_sort | Anne Lamp |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | While bio-based but chemically synthesized polymers such as polylactic acid require industrial conditions for biodegradation, protein-based materials are home compostable and show high potential for disposable products that are not collected. However, so far, such materials lack in their mechanical properties to reach the requirements for, e.g., packaging applications. Relevant measures for such a modification of protein-based materials are plasticization and cross-linking; the former increasing the elasticity and the latter the tensile strength of the polymer matrix. The assessment shows that compared to other polymers, the major bottleneck of proteins is their complex structure, which can, if developed accordingly, be used to design materials with desired functional properties. Chemicals can act as cross-linkers but require controlled reaction conditions. Physical methods such as heat curing and radiation show higher effectiveness but are not easy to control and can even damage the polymer backbone. Concerning plasticization, effectiveness and compatibility follow opposite trends due to weak interactions between the plasticizer and the protein. Internal plasticization by covalent bonding surpasses these limitations but requires further research specific for each protein. In addition, synergistic approaches, where different plasticization/cross-linking methods are combined, have shown high potential and emphasize the complexity in the design of the polymer matrix. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:51:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-aefadfe124a544ea88d6ab5886e9d19c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:51:13Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Molecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-aefadfe124a544ea88d6ab5886e9d19c2023-11-23T14:52:02ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492022-01-0127244610.3390/molecules27020446Options to Improve the Mechanical Properties of Protein-Based MaterialsAnne Lamp0Martin Kaltschmitt1Jan Dethloff2Institute of Environmental Technology and Energy Economics (IUE), Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), Eißendorfer Straße 40, 21073 Hamburg, GermanyInstitute of Environmental Technology and Energy Economics (IUE), Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), Eißendorfer Straße 40, 21073 Hamburg, GermanyInstitute of Environmental Technology and Energy Economics (IUE), Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), Eißendorfer Straße 40, 21073 Hamburg, GermanyWhile bio-based but chemically synthesized polymers such as polylactic acid require industrial conditions for biodegradation, protein-based materials are home compostable and show high potential for disposable products that are not collected. However, so far, such materials lack in their mechanical properties to reach the requirements for, e.g., packaging applications. Relevant measures for such a modification of protein-based materials are plasticization and cross-linking; the former increasing the elasticity and the latter the tensile strength of the polymer matrix. The assessment shows that compared to other polymers, the major bottleneck of proteins is their complex structure, which can, if developed accordingly, be used to design materials with desired functional properties. Chemicals can act as cross-linkers but require controlled reaction conditions. Physical methods such as heat curing and radiation show higher effectiveness but are not easy to control and can even damage the polymer backbone. Concerning plasticization, effectiveness and compatibility follow opposite trends due to weak interactions between the plasticizer and the protein. Internal plasticization by covalent bonding surpasses these limitations but requires further research specific for each protein. In addition, synergistic approaches, where different plasticization/cross-linking methods are combined, have shown high potential and emphasize the complexity in the design of the polymer matrix.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/27/2/446protein-based materialshome compostabilitymechanical propertiescross-linkingplasticizationprotein structure |
| spellingShingle | Anne Lamp Martin Kaltschmitt Jan Dethloff Options to Improve the Mechanical Properties of Protein-Based Materials Molecules protein-based materials home compostability mechanical properties cross-linking plasticization protein structure |
| title | Options to Improve the Mechanical Properties of Protein-Based Materials |
| title_full | Options to Improve the Mechanical Properties of Protein-Based Materials |
| title_fullStr | Options to Improve the Mechanical Properties of Protein-Based Materials |
| title_full_unstemmed | Options to Improve the Mechanical Properties of Protein-Based Materials |
| title_short | Options to Improve the Mechanical Properties of Protein-Based Materials |
| title_sort | options to improve the mechanical properties of protein based materials |
| topic | protein-based materials home compostability mechanical properties cross-linking plasticization protein structure |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/27/2/446 |
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