Development of a material made from poultry feathers and plastics

Abstract

The present invention relates to a material made from poultry feather powder and a commercial polymer such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate) or recycled plastics. Initially, the poultry feather powder was prepared in several steps: the poultry feathers were first washed several times with water, detergent, and chloroform to remove grease and water. Next, the poultry feathers were dried at 100°C and cut into small pieces. Finally, the poultry feathers were ground using a blender and filtered through a sieve to remove large particles. Subsequently, two-thirds plastic powder and one-third poultry feather powder were mixed together. The mixture was then doped with oxides depending on the intended use, and heated. The mixture “exhibits a temperature plateau that marks the beginning and end of solidification (crystallization)” on a hot plate for about 1 hour to obtain a homogeneous liquid mixture. By lowering the temperature to room temperature, a homogeneous solid material is obtained within a few minutes.