Keratin modified and functionalized as a reinforcement and nucleation agent of β-Polypropylene composites.

In this work, it was expected to obtain a novel β nucleating agent using a natural waste as it is the keratin, obtained from chicken feathers. For this, the keratin was previously functionalized with pimelic acid. This new reinforcement increased the thermomechanical properties of the raw polypropylene even at lower weight percentages and demonstrated to promote high percentages of β crystal in the matrix. The data presented below show results for Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Dynamical Mechanical Analysis (DMA) experiments. The file "Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy FTIR.xlxs" contains the infrared analysis data for natural ground keratin (named "Keratin" in the attached file), for the keratin after an alkaline sodium hydroxide treatment (named "KM" in the attached file), for the keratin functionalized with calcium pimelate (named "KPA" in the attached file) and for the pimelic acid (named "PA" in the attached file). The "Differential Scanning Calorimetry DSC.xlxs " file contains the data for the 0.5, 1.0 and 5.0%wt composites with alkaline treatment (named "KM" in the attached file) and composites functionalized with calcium pimelate (named "KPA" in the attached file). The "Dynamical Mechanical Analysis DMA.xlxs " file contains the storage modulus and Tan δ data for the 0.5, 1.0. and 5.0%wt composites of the studied systems. The data for the storage modulus of the alkaline treated composites are in sheet1 (named "Storage modulus for KM" in the attached file), the data for the Tan δ values of the alkaline treated composites are in sheet2 (named "Tan δ for KM" in the attached file), the data for the storage modulus of the functionalized composites are in sheet3 (labeled "Storage modulus for KPA" in the attachment) and the data for the Tan δ values of the functionalized composites are in sheet4 (labeled "Tan δ for KPA" in the attachment).