DIY bioplastics from peanut hulls waste in a starch-milk based matrix

Abstract

A self-produced (DIY) material has been developed from peanut hulls waste in a starch-milk based matrix, which has been referred to as Peanmat. This is obtained after some attempts, which are also shown, of including this waste in a DIY bioplastic. It shows some potential in terms of sustaining its own load and to make small objects, such as buttons, for design purposes. Its limits were clarified by thermal characterisation in terms of not being able to exceed temperatures of around 80°C and suffering non uniform deformation, especially in the case its thickness does not go beyond a few millimetres. Colouration tests proved effective. Of course, the material is in search of full mechanical characterisation though it proved suitable to be punched and did not suffer fragmentation or excessive porosity.

Keywords

• bioplastics
• peanut hulls
• starch
• milk
• thermal characterisation