Biodegradable protein-based plastics with improved mechanical strength and water resistance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11739216-B2
Application number	US-202017247246-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 4, 2020
Priority date	Dec 4, 2019
Publication date	Aug 29, 2023
Grant date	Aug 29, 2023

Abstract

The present disclosure describes protein-based resin compositions. In particular, the compositions employ methacrylated or acrylated protein, a strengthening agent, a plasticizer, and an initiator. The protein-based resin compositions may be used for making solid articles that are biodegradable and possess a high degree of tensile strength and water resistance. Methods of preparing the biodegradable protein-based plastic articles are also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A biodegradable protein-based resin composition comprising:
methacrylated or acrylated protein;
a strengthening agent;
a plasticizer; and
an initiator, wherein the initiator is a photoinitiator or a thermal initiator.

2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the protein is soy protein selected from soy flour, soy protein concentrate, soy protein isolate, or a mixture thereof.

3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the protein is soy protein isolate.

4. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the strengthening agent is selected from nanocellulose, carbon fiber, graphene, glass fiber, carbon nanotubes, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, layered silicates, and nanoclay, or methacrylated or acrylated derivatives thereof.

5. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the strengthening agent comprises a nanocellulose or methacrylated or acrylated nanocellulose.

6. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a crosslinking agent, wherein the crosslinking agent comprises one or more acrylate or methacrylate groups.

7. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the photoinitiator comprises 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropiophenone.

8. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the plasticizer comprises glycerol, polyethylene oxide, or acrylated-epoxidized soybean oil.

9. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition is UV or thermal curable.

10. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises one of more additives selected from a lubricant, a coloring agent, and a preservative.

11. A solid biodegradable article formed from the composition of claim 1 .

12. The article of claim 11 , wherein the article is formed by injection molding, extrusion molding, or 3D printing.

13. A method of preparing a biodegradable protein-based plastic composition comprising:
combining methacrylated or acrylated protein, a strengthening agent, a plasticizer, and an initiator to form a mixture, wherein the initiator is a photoinitiator or a thermal initiator; and
exposing the mixture to UV light or heat to cure the composition.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the protein is soy protein selected from soy flour, soy protein isolate, and soy protein concentrate.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the strengthening agent is selected from nanocellulose, carbon fiber, graphene, glass fiber, carbon nanotubes, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, layered silicates, and nanoclay, or methacrylated or acrylated derivatives thereof.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the strengthening agent comprises a nanocellulose or methacrylated or acrylated nanocellulose.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the photoinitiator comprises 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropiophenone.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the plasticizer comprises glycerol, polyethylene oxide, or acrylated-epoxidized soybean oil.

19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the method further comprises forming a biodegradable article from the mixture.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the forming is by injection molding, extrusion molding, or 3D printing.

Assignees

• Ndsu Res Foundation

Inventors

• Jiang Long
• Ma Qian

Classifications

• C08L89/00 Primary

  Compositions of proteins; Compositions of derivatives thereof (foodstuff preparations A23J3/00) · CPC title

• C08K5/0016

  Plasticisers · CPC title

• C08K5/0025

  Crosslinking or vulcanising agents; including accelerators · CPC title

• C08K5/07

  Aldehydes; Ketones · CPC title

• B33Y10/00

  Processes of additive manufacturing · CPC title