Physical and mechanical properties of waterlogged wood treated with hydrolyzed feather keratin

The physical and mechanical properties of waterlogged wood treated using avian feather were investigated. Avian feather is mainly composed of keratin protein and expectable materials for industrial utilization. The feather hydrolysate enhanced the mechanical properties of waterlogged wood and recovered the correlations between modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE) and anisotropy. The color of the wood treated with hydrolyzed feather solution exhibited natural wood texture. The feather hydrolysate had antimicrobial activity. However, the wood treated with hydrolyzed feather solution showed high hygroscopicity. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.