The Structure–Property Correlations in Dry Gelatin Adhesive Films

• Published in: Advanced engineering materials Vol. 23; no. 1
• Main Authors: Mosleh, Yasmine, de Zeeuw, Willem, Nijemeisland, Marlies, Bijleveld, Johan C., van Duin, Paul, Poulis, Johannes A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.01.2021
• Subjects: adhesives; bloom strength; gelatins; renaturation; triple helix
• ISSN: 1438-1656; 1527-2648
• DOI: 10.1002/adem.202000716

Gelatins are proteinaceous natural materials that are widely used in areas such as conservation and restoration of artifacts as adhesives and consolidants, in pharmaceutics as drug delivery carriers, and in the food industry as structurants. Herein, type A porcine gelatin adhesive films are prepared via solution casting method and their physical and mechanical properties are investigated using X‐ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry, contact angle measurement, dynamic mechanical analysis, and uniaxial tensile tests. The results demonstrate a linear correlation between microstructure of gelatin films in terms of their triple‐helix content and their macroscopic mechanical properties such as tensile strength and gel (Bloom) strength. Moreover, the findings of this study can help the scientists, in, e.g., art conservation and restoration, to predict the mechanical performance of these adhesives by performing a less material demanding and nondestructive physical measurement such as XRD. Gelatins are proteinaceous materials widely used in the conservation of artworks, pharmaceutics as drug delivery carriers, and the food industry as structurants. Herein, the results demonstrate how the molecular level structural features dictate macroscopic mechanical behavior of gelatin films. Moreover, physical techniques such as X‐ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry can be used to predict the macroscopic mechanical properties of gelatin films.