The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 21, 2009
Filed:
Sep. 26, 2003
Dara Woerdeman, Falls Church, VA (US);
Wim Veraverbeke, Heverlee, BE;
Ignace Verpoest, Kessel-Lo, BE;
Jan Delcour, Heverlee, BE;
Richard S. Parnas, West Hartford, CT (US);
Dara Woerdeman, Falls Church, VA (US);
Wim Veraverbeke, Heverlee, BE;
Ignace Verpoest, Kessel-Lo, BE;
Jan Delcour, Heverlee, BE;
Richard S. Parnas, West Hartford, CT (US);
K.U. Leuven Research & Development, Leuven, BE;
University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT (US);
Abstract
This invention consists of a modified gluten biopolymer for use in industrial applications, such as composites and foams. In the present work, the fracture toughness of the gluten polymer was improved with the addition of a thiol-containing modifying agent. This work also resulted in the development of a gluten biopolymer-modified fiber bundle, demonstrating the potential to process fully biodegradable composite materials. Qualitative analysis suggests that a reasonably strong interface between the natural fibers and biopolymer matrix can form spontaneously under the proper conditions. Therefore this invention relates to a modified gluten biopolymer for use in industrial applications, such as composites, stabilized foams and molded articles of manufactures. The present invention relates to a new gluten based biopolymer with modified properties, such as an increase in impact strength, and prepared by using thiol-containing molecules. The multifunctional activity of the polythiol-containing molecules generates the potential for the development of a new material base for commodity plastics. The invention furthermore relates to a new composite material comprising gluten-coated fiber, its use and the method for preparing the composite material.