Material compositions for reinforcing ionic polymer composites

Abstract

The invention is related to the preparation of an ionic polymer composite material comprising a protein and carbohydrate-containing vegetable material component that serves as a reinforcement agent for the composite. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the vegetable seed component is selected from the group of soy spent flakes, defatted soy flour, or soy protein concentrate with ionic polymers and the ionic polymer is carboxylated poly(styrene-butadiene). The composites have a significantly higher elastic modulus when compared with base polymer.

1 . A composite comprising (1) an ionic polymer and (2) a protein and carbohydrate-containing vegetable material.  
     
     
         2 . The composite of  claim 1 , wherein said composite is characterized by having a higher modulus when compared with said ionic polymer alone.  
     
     
         3 . The composite of  claim 1 , wherein said vegetable material is an oilseed residue remaining after removal of oil from said oil seed.  
     
     
         4 . The composite of  claim 1 , wherein said vegetable material comprises 10-85% protein and 15-90% carbohydrate.  
     
     
         5 . The composite of  claim 1 , wherein said vegetable material comprises 20-70% protein and 30-80% carbohydrate.  
     
     
         6 . The composite of  claim 1 , wherein said vegetable material is selected from the group consisting of soy spent flake, defatted soy flour, and soy protein concentrate.  
     
     
         7 . The composite of  claim 1 , wherein said ionic polymer contains a functional group selected from (1) carboxylic acid groups or salts thereof; (2) sulfonic acid groups or salts thereof; and (3) mixtures of said carboxylic acids, sulfonic acids or salts thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The composite of  claim 7 , wherein said ionic polymer comprises polymerized monomer units, less than 30 weight percent of which contain said functional group.  
     
     
         9 . The composite of  claim 8 , wherein said ionic polymer comprises at least 70 weight percent of hydrocarbon monomer units, in addition to said monomer units containing said functional group.  
     
     
         10 . A method for making a composite comprising: 
 a. mixing (1) an ionic polymer and (2) a protein and carbohydrate-containing vegetable material in the presence of water to obtain an aqueous dispersion;    b. removing at least some of said water from said aqueous dispersion; and    c. recovering said composite as a solid from said aqueous dispersion.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said removing of water from said aqueous dispersion in step (b) is conducted by drying.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said removing of water from said aqueous dispersion in step (b) is conducted by reducing the pH of the aqueous dispersion at least until said composite forms a precipitate, and separating said precipitate from said dispersion.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said separating is conducted by centrifugation.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein additional water is removed from said composite by drying.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said vegetable material is an oilseed residue remaining after removal of oil from said oil seed.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said vegetable material is selected from the group consisting of soy spent flake, defatted soy flour, and soy protein concentrate.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said ionic polymer contains a functional group selected from (1) carboxylic acid groups or salts thereof; (2) sulfonic acid groups or salts thereof; and (3) mixtures of said carboxylic acids, sulfonic acids or salts thereof.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said ionic polymer comprises polymerized monomer units, less than 30 weight percent of which contain said functional group.  
     
     
         19 . A product produced by the method of  claim 10 .  
     
     
         20 . A product produced by the method of  claim 16 .  
     
     
         21 . A product produced by the method of  claim 17.