title: Development of biodegradable foamlike materials based on casein and sodium montmorillonite clay.
abstract: Biodegradable foamlike materials based on a naturally occurring polymer (casein protein) and sodium montmorillonite clay (Na+ -MMT) were produced through a simple freeze-drying process. By utilizing DL-glyceraldehyde (GC) as a chemical cross-linking agent, the structural integrity of these new aerogels were remarkably improved when compared to those of the control system (without GC), with a minimal increase in the density from 0.11 to 0.12 g cm⁻³. The degree of perfection of the foamlike structures was another parameter that had a significant influence on the physical and thermal performances of the low density composites. The biodegradability of the aerogels was investigated in terms of the carbon dioxide (CO₂) evolution for up to 8 weeks in compost media under controlled conditions.
authors.affiliation: Polymer Processing and Polymer Nanomaterials Research Unit, The Petroleum and Petrochemical College, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Tassawuth
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pojanavaraphan
authors.forename: Rathanawan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Magaraphan
authors.forename: Bor-Sen
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Chiou
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Schiraldi
mesh_terms: D000538:Aluminum Silicates / Q000737:chemistry*; D001546:Bentonite / Q000737:chemistry*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002364:Caseins / Q000737:chemistry*; D000077215:Clay; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000737:chemistry; D005612:Freeze Drying; D005985:Glyceraldehyde / Q000737:chemistry; D015416:Maillard Reaction; D008422:Materials Testing; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010969:Plastics / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013499:Surface Properties; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D002364:Caseins; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D010969:Plastics; D001546:Bentonite; D005985:Glyceraldehyde; D000077215:Clay