Totally Bio-Based, Recyclable Wood Filler-Feather Resin Composite

Abstract

We attempted to use the keratin resin as a crystallizable adhesive agent serving as the binder for the milled wood fillers to develop a totally bio-based wood filler-feather keratin resin composite (WKC). The milled feathers could be resinified easily via the hot-press compression molding. WAXD measurements revealed that the four-fold screw structure of the feather keratin crystal could be easily destroyed by mechanically milling. However, it was also revealed that the limited molecular rearrangement in the stacking direction of the β-sheets occurred during the hot-press compression molding. Compared with the hot-press compression molding, the sintering method was more effective not only to resinify the milled feathers but also to induce the recrystallization of feather keratin in both longitudinal and lateral directions. The WKC comprised of a feather resin matrix produced using the finely milled feathers exhibited superior mechanical properties. Unevenly milled feathers seemed to conduct heterogeneous resinification. As a result, the adhesion at the interface between the wood filler and feather resin became weaker. The newly developed WKC could retain the bending properties comparable to those of a virgin one even after the successive milling-remolding procedure for three times.

Keywords

• composite
• feather keratin
• wood filler
• material recycle
• recrystallization
• adhesive agent