Structure and Properties of Wheat Gluten/Rubber Wood Ash Biocomposites

Abstract

Biocomposites from wheat gluten plasticized with glycerol and using rubber wood ash (RWA) as a filler (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 wt.%) were prepared by compression molding at 130C for 10 min with a pressure of 250 kg/cm2. Effects of RWA on morphology, mechanical properties and thermal decomposition temperatures of the biocomposites were investigated using Scanning electron microscope (SEM), Universal Testing Machine and Thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA), respectively. It was found that the maximum tensile strength (4.19 MPa) of wheat gluten/RWA biocomposites was obtained at a RWA content of 20 wt.% whereas, the elongation at break decreased with increasing of the RWA content. Moreover, thermal stability of the wheat gluten matrix was improved by addition RWA.