Polymer Engineering Center > Research > Development of Processing Techniques for Alternative Polymers Made of Renewable Resources

Protein-based polymers such as casein and soybean plastics were extensively used at the beginning of the 20^th century. Due to the advent of synthetic petroleum-based polymers, they fell out of common use by the 1940's. Major issues and concerns with these materials dealt with processing problems, properties and dimensional stability, all of which remain issues for all polymers today. In recent years, the use of alternative, non-petroleum-based materials made of renewable resources have been slowly regaining importance. Hence, the time is ripe to revive some of these old materials and processes. Currently, an extensive literature search in the English and German literature is being done at the Polymer Engineering Center (PEC) to gather existing information and research done on these natural polymers. For example, papers that were written nearly 100 years ago discuss the early formulations, processing techniques, processing conditions and problems that the plastics industry had with these materials early on. In addition, an experimental study is underway to compression and injection mold casein products. Compression molded casein plates are being cut into small test specimens that are subjected to dynamic mechanical tests to quantify the effect of cross-linking on these materials. In addition, thermal properties are being measured using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) tests and thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) tests.

Anticipated benefits:

• Potentially viable polymeric materials made of alternative resources that realize energy saving, cost reduction, or environmental friendliness.
  

• Providing new material applications and additional profits using dairy or agricultural surplus.