Adhesive properties of corn zein formulations on glass surfaces

Adhesive properties on glass of commercial zein and an inexpensive zein-lipid mixture isolated from dry-milled corn were investigated. A method was developed for uniformly preparing bonded glass panels and measuring the amount of pull required to separate the panels. The adhesive strength of commercial zein to glass was greater at 29% than at 52% relative humidity (RH). Bonded samples prepared from zein isolates were less sensitive to changes in RH. Bonds using commercial zein formulations containing plasticizer reached a maximum strength at 10% poly(ethylene glycol) regardless of RH. Formulations that required the least amount of ethanol (35-42%) were obtained by adjusting its pH to 3 or 10 with a volatile acid or base. These formulations completely bonded to the glass panels at low sample concentrations as estimated by 100% cohesive failure and exhibited lower Young's Modulus values than most of the other bonding materials tested. Samples bonded with a polyvinyl acetate emulsion adhesive were not as strong as the zein-bonded samples and were sensitive to changes in RH.