THERMAL, MECHANICAL AND WATER ABSORPTION PROPERTIES OF THERMAL PROCESSED MEAT AND BONE MEAL BIOPLASTICS MODIFIED WITH MALEIC ANHYDRIDE

摘要

Thermal processing of meat and bone meal (MBM) based plastics using glycerol as a plasticizer is attractive as it combines two relatively cheap raw materials with a high volume processing route. However, the produced plastics are moisture sensitive with low mechanical properties because MBM and glycerol are both hydrophilic. This paper describes the improvement of tensile properties and moisture resistance while maintaining biodegradability of the bioplastics by use of a resin from reaction of glycerol and maleic anhydride before gelation. The modified resin/plasticizer was found to retain good compatibility with MBM, and the processed bioplastics had better mechanical properties with improved water resistance compared to those produced with only glycerol as the plasticizer. Importantly, the bioplastic retained thermoplastic properties and hence moldable with conventional industrial thermal processes like thermoforming.