Injection molded articles from natural materials and methods for making them

摘要

Injection molded articles and methods for making them from bio-based materials are described. More specifically, injection molded articles and methods for making them from bio-based materials that behave like high-molecular-weight thermosets such as lignin or protein-based materials including corn gluten meal, corn gluten feed, distillers dried grains with solubles, wet distillers grains, modified wet distillers grains, canola meal, wheat gluten, barley, cottonseed meal, sunflower meal, linseed meal, soy, rapeseed, sorghum proteins, maize, rice proteins, potato proteins, cassava proteins, sweet potato proteins, yam proteins, plantain proteins, keratin, or collagen are described.

主权项

1. A process for injection molding an article from a thermosetting bio-based material of high molecular weight comprising the steps of:
providing a mold; introducing said thermosetting bio-based material of high molecular weight in combination with sufficient liquid to facilitate heat transfer into an injection molding apparatus including a screw and barrel adapted for low shear to facilitate movement of the bio-based material through the barrel; injecting said thermosetting bio-based material of high molecular weight into the mold, wherein the mold temperature is about 250° F. to about 330° F.; and compressing and curing the material within the heated mold to form the article.