Regenerated protein fibres: a preliminary review

Brooks, Mary M.

doi:10.1533/9781845697310.2.234

Cited by 17 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…As we seek to understand the rise and fall of these fibres, it is necessary to investigate the relevant influencing factors: (1) The socio-political landscape of the time; (2) advances in technology; and (3) the way in which each fibre was marketed and presented to consumers. Through her own historical investigation, Brooks [20] also identifies three possible generations of RPFs, each developed in response to varying economic, political and social factors. The first were created between the mid-19th century and early 20th century, the second in the mid-20th century, and the third in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…After a second dip in interest in RPFs, innovations in biotechnology and demand for more sustainable fibres sparked a flurry of activity in the late 20th century [20]. This combination of new technology and demand for fibres with a reduced ecological footprint meant that textile developers where once again looking to alternative sources for raw materials and advanced manufacturing methods.…”

Section: Technologymentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Potential for Regenerated Protein Fibres within a Circular Economy: Lessons from the Past Can Inform Sustainable Innovation in the Textiles Industry

et al. 2021

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Humanity is currently facing a crisis of excess, with a growing population and the trend towards disposable goods, and the world’s resources are under tremendous pressure. This is especially evident in the textiles industry, with increasing consumer numbers and the trend of ‘fast fashion’ causing demand to be at an all-time high, with non-renewable feedstocks depleting and production of natural fibres also under strain. Considering the future of textile production, it can be beneficial to investigate our past for inspiration towards more sustainable approaches. Much of the research into regenerated protein fibres was performed out of necessity during wartime, and while this demonstrates the potential for food waste to be exploited as a resource, the manufacturing methods used at the time now present issues for a circular economy due to the high amounts of toxic waste produced. Using a range of historical and modern literature sources, including journal articles, patents and conference papers, this review presents the historical precedent and research performed into azlons, regenerated fibres produced from waste protein-rich materials. Historical evidence shows that the success of these azlon fibres was short-lived, partly due to negative associations with deprivation and hardship, alongside the emergence of alternative man-made fibres, which were devoid of these connotations with never-before-seen physical properties. The social and political climate leading to the creation, and ultimate demise, of azlons is explored along with the influence of evolving technologies and the marketing of these textile products to consumers. Although the creation of products from waste is not a new concept, the literature has identified that the synergy between the challenges faced in a time of resource scarcity and the current trend of problematic excess reveals an exciting opportunity to learn from our past to create a greener future. Lessons that could help with the current crisis within the textile industry are extracted and presented within the concept of a circular textiles economy. Our findings show that there is notable potential for one regenerated protein fibre, made from casein extracted from milk waste, to be manufactured within a localised, circular economy in conjunction with the principles of green chemistry and sustainable textiles technology.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Technologymentioning

confidence: 99%

The Potential for Regenerated Protein Fibres within a Circular Economy: Lessons from the Past Can Inform Sustainable Innovation in the Textiles Industry

et al. 2021

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“…These fibers, known as "azlons," were developed to compete with other natural protein fibers such as wool or silk in order to improve material properties, provide new functionalities, or reduce the ecological production footprint. According to Brooks [1], three different generations of regenerated protein fibers can be identified, each developed in response to contemporaneous economic and social factors. They are produced by dissolving the proteins in alkaline media and forcing the solutions through a spinneret into an acidic coagulation bath followed by an additional crosslinking step [2][3][4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A regenerated fiber from rennet-treated casein micelles

et al. 2021

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Casein as the major protein of milk is a promising protein source for biopolymer fibers. Current casein-based fibers are fabricated by dissolving caseins in alkaline media and wet spinning in a coagulation bath containing harsh chemicals. In milk, casein is present in so-called casein micelles (CMs). Based on the rennet-induced aggregation, we developed a process that can be applied for the spinning of micellar casein fibers in a sustainable way without the use of harsh chemicals. Fabricated fibers show a surface with a characteristic microstructure, which can also be detected embedded in a network structure inside the fiber. The fibers are stable under acidic and neutral conditions and decompose in alkaline media down to aggregates with sizes comparable to the characteristic microstructure. The so far reached tensile properties of the micellar fiber are between low and mid double-digit percentage range compared to casein azlons.

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“…Moreover, these fibers are wrinkled quickly and need to be controlled and hanged out. Aralac (5), caslen, Cargan, Tiolan, Lactofil, Fibrolane, and Silkool were commercial name of casein fibers produced in different countries (6)(7)(8). There are reports of production casein fibers based on new patents in Germany (9)(10)(11).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The fabrication and characterization of casein/PEO nanofibrous yarn via electrospinning

et al. 2019

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Casein, a natural protein, has been used as a biopolymer-based resource for producing fiber. This fiber provides high comfort properties with a pH close to human skin. This study focused on evaluating the production feasibility of casein nanofiber twisted yarn with the highest protein content in the hybrid yarn, obtaining suitable spinning conditions and desirable properties of the produced yarn. The desirable yarn achieved by composing 90% casein and 10% polyethylene oxide. The yarn strengthened using several types of cross-linking methods and the best technique was obtained to spin an optimized engineered yarn. Consequently, the biodegrading test conducted on the optimized yarn (90% casein and 10% polyethylene oxide blend) in the presence of 40% di-isocyanate as strengthener additive. Observations showed that after ten days, the sample mostly degraded in the solvent and its strength massively reduced so it could be considered as an environmentally friendly, biodegradable fiber.

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Regenerated protein fibres: a preliminary review

Cited by 17 publications

References 11 publications

The Potential for Regenerated Protein Fibres within a Circular Economy: Lessons from the Past Can Inform Sustainable Innovation in the Textiles Industry

The Potential for Regenerated Protein Fibres within a Circular Economy: Lessons from the Past Can Inform Sustainable Innovation in the Textiles Industry

A regenerated fiber from rennet-treated casein micelles

The fabrication and characterization of casein/PEO nanofibrous yarn via electrospinning

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