Abstract
Plant fibers can be used to produce composite materials for automobile parts, thus reducing plastic used in their manufacture, overall vehicle weight and fuel consumption when they replace mineral fillers and glass fibers. Soybean stem residues are, potentially, significant sources of inexpensive, renewable and biodegradable natural fibers, but are not curretly used for biocomposite production due to the functional properties of their fibers in composites being unknown. The current study was initiated to investigate the effects of plant genotype on the performance characteristics of soybean stem fibers when incorporated into a polypropylene (PP) matrix using a selective phenotyping approach. Fibers from 50 lines of a recombinant inbred line population (169 RILs) grown in different environments were incorporated into PP at 20% (wt/wt) by extrusion. Test samples were injection molded and characterized for their mechanical properties. The performance of stem fibers in the composites was significantly affected by genotype and environment. Fibers from different genotypes had significantly different chemical compositions, thus composites prepared with these fibers displayed different physical properties. This study demonstrates that thermoplastic composites with soybean stem-derived fibers have mechanical properties that are equivalent or better than wheat straw fiber composites currently being used for manufacturing interior automotive parts. The addition of soybean stem residues improved flexural, tensile and impact properties of the composites. Furthermore, by linkage and in silico mapping we identified genomic regions to which quantitative trait loci (QTL) for compositional and functional properties of soybean stem fibers in thermoplastic composites, as well as genes for cell wall synthesis, were co-localized. These results may lead to the development of high value uses for soybean stem residue.
Highlights
Composite materials are produced from two or more components, which have different physical and chemical properties
The use of plant fibers in automotove parts is limited by their variability and poor performance when incorporated into composites
The results demonstrate that the performance of soybean stem fibers in composites was signifcantly affected by both genotypes and evironments
Summary
Composite materials are produced from two or more components, which have different physical and chemical properties. One or more phases have a biological origin [1]. QTL for Fiber Performance in Soybean Stem Composites. Increasing demands by automotive parts manufacturers and OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) for light weight, low cost materials coupled with an enhanced societal interest in reducing environmental impacts of manufacturing and transportation are driving interest in the development of new composite materials containing plant fibers as reinforcing fillers [2]. Natural plant fibers have good specific strength and modulus, high sound absorption, low density, reduced tool wear, enhanced energy recovery, reduced dermal and respiratory irritation, good biodegradability and are economically viable [3]. Plant fibers can be used to manufacture automobile parts as replacements for glass fibers in composites with plant- or petroleum-based plastics
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