Plant protein based imitation leather fabric

Abstract

Imitation leather fabrics comprising a plant protein, plasticizer, and optionally non-proteinaceous polymer and methods of making are disclosed. The fabrics have similar properties to natural leather obtained from animal skin. They are biodegradable, flexible, and stretchable; and can be used as a substitute of natural or synthetic leather.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method of producing an imitation leather material, comprising:
 mixing (i) grain protein, (ii) plasticizer, (iii) crosslinker, and (iv) rubber to form a composite;   calendaring the composite into a flat sheet; and   heat compressing the calendared flat sheet to form the imitation leather material.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the grain protein contains at least 70% w/w protein. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the grain protein comprises wheat gluten. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the grain protein further comprises rice gluten, barley protein, or maize protein, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the rubber comprises natural rubber latex, natural rubber, or epoxidized natural rubber, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the rubber comprises synthetic rubber or vulcanized rubber, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the plasticizer comprises polyol, fatty acid, or plant oil, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the crosslinker comprises dialdehyde, carbodiimide, or tannin, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising surface coating the imitation leather material with a pigmented curable material. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising embossing leather patterns on the calendared flat sheet prior to heat compressing the calendared flat sheet. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the grain protein, plasticizer, crosslinker, and rubber are further mixed with one or more non-proteinaceous polymers. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein one or more non-proteinaceous polymers comprise polyurethane. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the imitation leather material is formed as a monolayer. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the grain protein, plasticizer, crosslinker, and rubber are further mixed with a lubricating agent, a dye or a pigment, or any combination thereof to form the composite. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the grain protein comprises wheat gluten and the grain protein contains at least 70% w/w protein;   the rubber comprises natural rubber latex, natural rubber, or epoxidized natural rubber, or a combination thereof;   the plasticizer comprises polyol, fatty acid, or plant oil, or any combination thereof; and   the crosslinker comprises dialdehyde, carbodiimide, or tannin, or any combination thereof.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the grain protein, plasticizer, crosslinker, and rubber are further mixed with polyurethane. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the grain protein, plasticizer, crosslinker, and rubber are further mixed with a lubricating agent, a dye or a pigment, or any combination thereof to form the composite. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the imitation leather material is formed as a monolayer. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the imitation leather material is biodegradable, flexible, and stretchable.