CONSIDER 'BROWN' AS THE NEW 'GREEN': RECYCLED POLYPROPYLENE-WHEAT STRAW COMPOSITES(Abstract)

摘要

Petroleum and forestry have been major sources of feedstock for the plastics industry in recent years. As the public is becoming more conscientious regarding environmental conservation, it is apparent that feedstock from agriculture will play a major role. Certain AgFillers can be obtained without affecting food chain. Moreover, developing novel markets for agricultural plant material with no nutritional value, like wheat straw, can contribute positively for the economics of food supply. Composites made of recycled thermoplastics and agricultural fillers (AgFillers) will address renewability and recyclability concerns. In Ontario, Canada, material recovery facilities divert a waste stream of mixed PP/HDPE plastic which has little value to local industries. Meanwhile, fanning activities in the province generate a large amount of biomass by-product which is also underutilized. Our research involves the development of a natural fiber-thermoplastic composite that incorporates the use of recycled thermoplastics like post-consumer polypropylene and agricultural crop by-products such as wheat straw. These "green" composites have an appealing natural wood-like brown color without the addition of colorants. Composites made of post-consumer recycled polypropylene and wheat straw filler show advantages in cost and weight savings when compared to traditional virgin polypropylene-mineral filler composites, while maintaining the necessary processing and mechanical properties. These environmentally friendly composites can be custom-designed to suit applications in the consumer product manufacturing, construction and automotive industries.