Location: Plant Polymer Research
Project Number: 5010-41000-188-002-N
Project Type: Non-Funded Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Mar 18, 2024
End Date: Mar 16, 2029
Objective:
To understand the influence of injection molding conditions on the properties of bioplastics reinforced with natural fibers and help identify the robustness of natural fiber reinforced bioplastics to injection molding process conditions.
Approach:
The Cooperator will receive pellets of thermoplastic biocomposites from ARS and they will conduct injection molding studies and measure basic composite mechanical properties, such as tensile strength, modulus, elongation at break, and toughness. In addition to preparing pellets of thermoplastic biocomposites by melt extrusion, ARS will measure thermal, rheological, and biodegradability characteristics of the materials.
