ARS | Publication request: THERMOFORMED BIOPOLYMERS FROM WHEAT GLUTEN PROTEIN

Submitted to: United States-Japan Cooperative Program in Natural Resources
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: February 5, 2005
Publication Date: May 5, 2005
Citation: Pallos, F.M., Robertson, G.H., Pavlath, A.E. 2004. Thermoformed biopolymers from wheat gluten protein (abstract). United States-Japan Cooperative Program in Natural Resources. Paper No. 6.

Technical Abstract: Wheat gluten can be thermoformed using various additives under reductive conditions into pliable lucide wrapping films. While many of these films possess strength equal or better than films used commercially, e.g., polypropylene,it was observed that at relative humidities under 30% and over 70% the the films became brittle and weak respectively. Therefore, investigations were concentrated on overcoming these difficulties. It was found that spraying the films with a very thin polyurethane coat the films remained strong and flexible even at 6% relative humidity. Above 70% relative humidity, however, the strength of the films was still less than that of the commercial samples.