Invention of biobased polymer alloys and their application in plastic automobile parts

ABSTRACT Polyamide 11 (PA11), a 100% biobased plastic derived from inedible plants, and polypropylene (PP) were mixed with a reactive compatibilizer using a twin-screw extruder. The

mechanical properties and morphology of the resulting injection-molded PP/PA11 bioalloys were investigated by flexural tests, Charpy notched impact tests, field-emission scanning electron

microscopy (FE-SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), among other tests. We found that it was possible to control the morphology of the bioalloy and that it had a wide range of

mechanical properties depending on the morphology. When the morphology of the bioalloy was a “ nanosalami” structure, as revealed by FE-SEM, the material had a Charpy notched impact strength

of 70–85 kJ/m2, which is superior to that of polycarbonates, without a large reduction in the flexural modulus. TEM observations showed that the reactive compatibilizers were located in the

interphase between the matrix and dispersed phase. The compatibilizers played a key role in improving impact strength. The bioalloy could be used for foam injection molding; therefore, it

was able to be applied as a foamed door trim, resulting in an approximately 30% weight reduction for the plastic part. Access through your institution Buy or subscribe This is a preview of

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BIOEPOXY COMPOSITES REINFORCED WITH RECYCLED RIGID POLYURETHANE FOAM FOR MECHANICAL, THERMAL, ACOUSTIC, AND ELECTROMAGNETIC APPLICATIONS IN A CIRCULAR ECONOMY APPROACH Article Open access 10

March 2025 PERFORMANCE OF GLASS FIBER REINFORCED POLYAMIDE COMPOSITES EXPOSED TO BIOETHANOL FUEL AT HIGH TEMPERATURE Article Open access 19 August 2022 PENTADECAFLUOROOCTANOIC-ACID-FREE

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2022. Download references ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors are grateful to Dr. Arimitsu Usuki and Mr. Osamu Kitou for their enormous guidance, strong encouragement, and continuous support.

AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * Toyota Central R&D laboratories, Inc., 41-1 Yokomichi, Nagakute, Aichi, 480-1192, Japan Jumpei Kawada & Makoto Mouri * Toyota Boshoku

Corporation, 88 Kanayama, Kamekubi, Toyota, Aichi, 470-0395, Japan Masayuki Kitou, Toshiyuki Ario & Keisuke Kato Authors * Jumpei Kawada View author publications You can also search for

this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Masayuki Kitou View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Makoto Mouri View author publications You can also

search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Toshiyuki Ario View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Keisuke Kato View author publications

You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar CORRESPONDING AUTHOR Correspondence to Jumpei Kawada. ETHICS DECLARATIONS CONFLICT OF INTEREST The authors declare no competing

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ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Kawada, J., Kitou, M., Mouri, M. _et al._ Invention of biobased polymer alloys and their application in plastic automobile parts. _Polym J_ 55, 753–760 (2023).

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41428-023-00760-1 Download citation * Received: 21 September 2022 * Revised: 09 January 2023 * Accepted: 11 January 2023 * Published: 16 March 2023 * Issue Date:

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