Title: Eco-solutions for automotive interior applications by way of thermoplastic biocomposites: cost, weight and green advancements

Authors: Mihaela Mihai; Karen Stoeffler

Addresses: Polymer Bioproducts – Automotive and Surface Transportation, National Research Council of Canada, 75 De Mortagne, Boucherville, QC, J4B 6Y4, Canada ' Polymer Bioproducts – Automotive and Surface Transportation, National Research Council of Canada, 75 De Mortagne, Boucherville, QC, J4B 6Y4, Canada

Abstract: This paper discloses viable eco-solutions concerning the formulation and the performance of biocomposites and bioblends formulated based on polypropylene (PP), polyamide (PA6), and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and designated for the fabrication of interior automotive parts. Biocomposites containing up to 40 wt.% of cellulosic fibres were first formulated and compounded. Bioblends containing up to 30 wt.% polylactide (PLA) were also obtained. Different formulations of biocomposites were also compounded based on PLA-containing alloys and cellulosic fibres. Tensile strength, tensile modulus, and heat deflection temperature (HDT) of obtained bioblends and biocomposites presented at least equivalent values comparing to their commercial counterparts currently used in the fabrication of automotive interior parts. Parts obtained by foaming through injection-moulding process presented similar properties as the unfoamed and commercial grades while being up to 25 wt.% lighter, up to 37% less expensive, and up to 50 wt.% greener.

Keywords: polypropylene biocomposites; polyamide biocomposites; acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene biocomposites; cellulosic fibres; lightweight biocomposites; lower-cost biocomposites; biocomposites for automotive interior parts.

DOI: 10.1504/IJAUTOC.2017.091403

International Journal of Automotive Composites, 2017 Vol.3 No.2/3/4, pp.141 - 168

Received: 14 Jan 2017
Accepted: 02 Jun 2017

Published online: 30 Apr 2018 *

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