AbstractThermal property of soy protein isolates (SPI) was studied with differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. The weight loss of pure SPI is about 300°C. The glass transition temperature (Tg) is above 200°C. The best molding temperature of glycerin plasticized SPI plastics were then given. It is between 125 and 140°C. Subsequently the special property of molded SPI plastics was investigated. Results show that the atmosphere humidity affects the mechanical property and thermal property of SPI plastics. With the increasing humidity, the tensile strength decreases. While the elongation at breakage and peak area of the differential scanning calorimetry curve increases. At high temperature even at 140°C the molding temperature SPI plastics still have tensile strength though it decreases with the increasing test temperature while elongation at breakage increases. Dynamic mechanic thermal analysis test show that the storage modulus decreases with the rising temperature. The mechanical loss peak appears at lower temperature with the increasing amount of glycerin content. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007