Tuning the Mechanical and Functional Properties of Pea Protein-Based Bioplastics via Different Physical and Chemical Cross-Linking Methods

Abstract

Protein-based bioplastics have been highly investigated in order to substitute conventional plastics. This is due to their biodegradability and natural origin, which reduce well-known plastic pollution. Nevertheless, their low mechanical properties and high environmental sensitivity have slowed their advance to the market. One solution to this problem is the use of additional cross-linking methods, which improve the bioplastics’ properties. In this sense, the main goal of this study was to evaluate the influence of different cross-linking methods (physical, chemical, and enzymatic) on the mechanical and functional properties of pea protein-based bioplastics. According to the results obtained in this work, an additional cross-linking stage could tune the properties of protein-based bioplastics.