Cellulose-wheat gluten bulk plastic materials produced from processing raw powders by severe shear deformation

Abstract

Cellulose-based renewable bulk plastics with significantly improved mechanical properties were produced by using a small proportion of wheat gluten (WG) as an additive to enhance the material processing capability. The strong shear-deformation during equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) generated effective chain penetration and strong intermolecular interactions between the amorphous cellulose and WG components. The micro-cracking of the obtained materials was minimized, and the processing temperature was reduced. The crystallinity of the cellulose component was also decreased, whereas the crystalline size and regularity was less modified. The present study has further demonstrated that ECAP is a promising methodology to produce renewable and biodegradable "wood plastics" from cellulose-based agricultural waste.