Green composites with high ductility and wet durability from keratin and chitin nanoparticles have been developed using clean technology in an aqueous system. Due to weak interfacial characteristics, limited recovery of ordered protein structures, and crosslinkages, feather protein-based composites have traditionally had low ductility and moisture stabilities, despite their desirable biodegradability and biocompatibility. We employed chitin nanoparticles with tailored deacetylation to strengthen keratin in this study. Chitin nanoparticles increased interfacial contacts and produced crosslinks with keratin via controlled deacetylation. As a result, without the use of any coupling agents, organized keratin structures with a high degree of entanglement in composites were largely generated. Furthermore, by controlling the hydrophilicity of the matrix and reinforcements, tailored deacetylation for chitin could change the wet performance of composites. Mechanical characteristics and wet performance of keratin-based composites can be significantly enhanced by controlling the regularity and hydrophilicity of molecules with chitin nanoparticles. Reinforced keratin composites experienced a 230%, 260%, and 540% increase in breaking strain, breaking stress, and ductility, respectively, as well as a 94% weight retention. Desirable mechanical and wet properties of keratin-based composites provide a high potential for the keratin to be applied in the agricultural industry.

Ductile keratin/chitin composites from improved matrix-reinforcement compatibility and amide crosslinkages via controlled degree of chitin deacetylation.

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ACS Fall 2022

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