The effect of marine sediments on the mechanical properties and thermal stability of proteinic biopolymer

This article focuses on the valorization of marine sediments (MS) in proteinic biopolymer (HE) that will generate HEMS biocomposites. These biocomposites were developed with various percentages of marine sediments (0%, 5%, 15%, and 20%) and characterized. Mechanical properties were examined as a function of the contents of used marine sediments. The flexural and compressive modulus increase with the rise of the MS percentage in the composite. The compressive strength increases while the flexural and tensile strengths decrease. Furthermore, the HEMS composite was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and by using scanning electron microscopy. And the thermal degradation behavior of the composite was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis coupled with differential scanning calorimetry. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:1624–1630, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers