Production of composites by using gliadin as a bonding material

In previous papers, a new technology that produces biopolymer composites by particle-bonding was introduced. During the manufacturing process, micrometer-scale raw material was coated with a corn (Zea mays L.) protein, zein, which was then processed to form a rigid material. The coating of rawmaterial particles with zein makes use of the unique property of this protein in aqueous ethanol solution. In this paper, it is shown that the behavior of a wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) protein, gliadin, is very similar to zein in aqueous ethanol. Size variation of aggregates in 45e65% aqueous ethanol was investigated with a turbidimeter in conjunction with Size Exclusion Chromatography. Confirming the resemblance of gliadin to zein in terms of aggregation behavior in aqueous alcohol, composites were fabricated by particle-bonding and their mechanical property was measured with a Universal Testing Machine. Test results showed that gliadin is a good substitute for zein in the production of composites. Published by Elsevier Ltd.