Exploring keratin composition variability for sustainable thermal insulator design.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biotechnology
• Sustainable Engineering

Background:

• Traditional insulation materials pose environmental concerns.
• Keratin, a biopolymer from hair and feathers, offers potential for sustainable material development.
• Alginate provides a versatile matrix for biopolymer composites.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the thermal and mechanical properties of alginate-keratin composites for insulation.
• To determine how keratin type and content influence composite characteristics.
• To assess the potential of these composites as eco-friendly insulation solutions.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of alginate-keratin composites with varying keratin ratios.
• Characterization of composite porosity, pore size, and thermal conductivity.
• Evaluation of mechanical properties, including compressive modulus.
• Analysis of protein structure and crosslinking related to sulfur content.

Main Results:

• Keratin content significantly impacts composite porosity and thermal conductivity.
• Higher feather keratin content increases porosity and reduces thermal conductivity (0.033–0.038 W/(m·K)).
• Higher hair keratin content enhances compressive modulus (60–77 kPa).
• Sulfur content and crosslinking index are critical factors influencing properties.

Conclusions:

• Alginate-keratin composites demonstrate tunable thermal and mechanical performance.
• Keratin-based composites offer a promising sustainable alternative to conventional insulation.
• The study highlights the importance of keratin structure in optimizing composite properties.