New natural injection-moldable composite material from sunflower oil cake.
Through a twin-screw extrusion process the native structure of sunflower oil cake was completely transformed (globular protein denaturation/texturization and husk fiber defibration) into a simpler matrix-fiber structure, as could be seen on SEM micrographs. Further chemical reduction of protein disulfide bridges greatly reduced the melt viscosity of the moistened composite that it could be injection-molded. The molded specimens were tested and their tensile and flexural properties and water absorption calculated. Their water resistance appeared to be particularly high, and could be enhanced further after a thermal treatment (N2, 200 degrees C). The proteic matrix seemed to behave like a natural thermoset resin. Sunflower oil cake could be used without any additives to make biodegradable, water resistant and exceptionally cheap materials.
Rouilly
A
A
Laboratoire de Chimie Agro-Industrielle, UMR 1010 INRA/INP-ENSIACET, 118 Route de Narbonne, F-31077 Toulouse Cedex 04, France.
Orliac
O
O
Silvestre
F
F
Rigal
L
L
D006358:Hot Temperature; D008422:Materials Testing; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D010969:Plastics / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D000074242:Sunflower Oil; D014783:Viscosity; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
D010938:Plant Oils; D010940:Plant Proteins; D010969:Plastics; D000074242:Sunflower Oil; D014867:Water