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

Polymer Journal (2023)Cite this article

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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.

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Acknowledgements

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

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Toyota Central R&D laboratories, Inc., 41-1 Yokomichi, Nagakute, Aichi, 480-1192, Japan

    Jumpei Kawada & Makoto Mouri

  2. Toyota Boshoku Corporation, 88 Kanayama, Kamekubi, Toyota, Aichi, 470-0395, Japan

    Masayuki Kitou, Toshiyuki Ario & Keisuke Kato

Authors
  1. Jumpei Kawada
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  2. Masayuki Kitou
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  3. Makoto Mouri
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  4. Toshiyuki Ario
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  5. Keisuke Kato
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Correspondence to Jumpei Kawada.

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Kawada, J., Kitou, M., Mouri, M. et al. Invention of biobased polymer alloys and their application in plastic automobile parts. Polym J (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41428-023-00760-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41428-023-00760-1

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