Corn Gluten Meal as a Thermoplastic Resin: Effect of Plasticizers and Water Content

Corn gluten meal (CGM) was studied to investigate the effect plasticizers and water have on its melt processing, and how this melting affects its mechanical properties. GCM containing varying amounts of water were mixed with 23% (w/w) plasticizers; (glycerol, triethylene glycol (TEG), dibutyl tartrate, and octanoic acid in a Haake bowl mixer at 80°C. The amount of water in the CGM affected the amount of torque produced in the Haake mixer. This increase in torque was correlated with how well the CGM melted in the mixer. SEM images of CGM melted in the mixer showed a more uniform homogenous structure when processed at its optimum moisture content. Glycerol, TEG, and dibutyl tartrate produced the greatest torque when the CGM contained