%0 Journal Article
%T Preparation and Characterization of Whey Protein-Based Polymers Produced from Residual Dairy Streams
%J Polymers | An Open Access Journal from MDPI
%D 2019
%R https://doi.org/10.3390/polym11040722
%X The wide use of non-biodegradable, petroleum-based plastics raises important environmental concerns, which urges finding alternatives. In this study, an alternative way to produce polymers from a renewable source¡ªmilk proteins¡ªwas investigated with the aim of replacing polyethylene. Whey protein can be obtained from whey residual, which is a by-product in the cheese-making process. Two different sources of whey protein were tested: Whey protein isolate (WPI) containing 91% protein concentration and whey protein concentrate (WPC) containing 77% protein concentration. These were methacrylated, followed by free radical polymerization with co-polymer poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA) to obtain polymer sheets. Different protein concentrations in water (11¨C14 w/ v%), at two protein/PEGMA mass-ratios, 20:80 and 30:70, were tested. The polymers made from WPI and WPC at a higher protein/PEGMA ratio of 30:70 had significantly better tensile strength than the one with lower protein content, by about 1¨C2 MPa (the best 30:70 sample exhibited 3.8 ¡À 0.2 MPa and the best 20:80 sample exhibited 1.9 ¡À 0.4 MPa). This indicates that the ratio between the hard (protein) and soft (copolymer PEGMA) domains induce significant changes to the tensile strengths of the polymer sheets. Thermally, the WPI-based polymer samples are stable up to 277.8 ¡À 6.2 ¡ãC and the WPC-based samples are stable up to 273.0 ¡À 3.4 ¡ãC. View Full-Tex
%U https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/11/4/722