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Mechanical properties of green composites with polycaprolactone and wheat gluten
Author(s) -
Finkenstadt V. L.,
Mohamed A. A.,
Biresaw G.,
Willett J. L.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.28446
Subject(s) - polycaprolactone , ultimate tensile strength , materials science , composite material , composite number , elongation , filler (materials) , polymer
Wheat gluten (WG) was incorporated into polycaprolactone (PCL) (up to 50% w/w) as a filler to form a biodegradable polymer composite. A microscopic examination showed a well‐dispersed particle–matrix system. The composite was evaluated for its tensile properties. The tensile strength of the composite decreased linearly with increasing WG content from 20 (0% WG) to 6 MPa (50% WG). However, the reduction of the tensile strength did not fit the Nicolais–Narkis model, and this indicated that some adhesion between WG and PCL occurred. High elongation (>900%) was observed in PCL–WG composites with up to 20% WG; it decreased to 400% with 35% WG and finally to less than 100% with 40–50% WG. There was a particle‐induced transition at a calculated critical volume of 0.3 corresponding to 30% WG by weight with respect to PCL. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. JAppl Polym Sci, 2008