The Potential of Using Bio Plastic Materials in Automotive Applications

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to present an overview of the trend of using, on a wider scale, plastics in the automotive industry. It is presented the realization of PLA-TPU-Blends with a biogenic mass greater than 90%, by mixing thermoplastic Polyurethan (TPU) with Polylactid-Acid (PLA) at IKT University of Stuttgart. In order to estimate the possibilities of use of bio-materials made from PLA and TPU, the properties were compared with standard thermoplastics such as Polypropylen (PP), Polyethylen (PE), Polyamid (PA), as well as with better performing materials from the engineering thermoplastics range. PBT, ASA and their derivatives. Notable are the properties of PLA-TPU-Blends compared with standard thermoplastics PP, PE, PA. The results show PLA-TPU-Blends superiority in Yeld strength compared to the types of Polypropylene homopolymer (PP-H), block-copolymer (PP-B) and randompolymer (PP-R), the properties being adaptable by flexible modification of the ratio between the components, according to the requirements of the application. Using suitable additives to make components compatible, there were created blends which were partially cross-linked, but their properties remain of thermoplast. When reinforcing PLA-TPU-Blends with fibers (glass and natural), the components also react with the groups (-OH) on the fiber surface, thus making a good connection between fibers and blends, which prevents the so-called pull-out-effect. PLA-TPU-Blends reinforced with natural fibers can be used to make the interior body elements of vehicles. The paper also presents a comparison between bio-materials made at IKT University of Stuttgart with Polyethylen (PE) and other industry standard bio-materials.

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“…Researchers in the field have highlighted a dependence between fibre length and the complexity of the finished product, which can be seen in Figure 1 of this feasibility study and which must be taken into account having an important role in choosing the technological process, especially the configuration and speed of twin-screw extruder and process temperature. For easy guidance of the engineer who wants to replace currently used automotive components with bio materials such as PLA-TPU-Blends, mechanical properties of PLA-TPU-Blends materials were compared in the previous feasibility study "The potential of using bio plastic materials in automotive applications" [21] with conventional plastics such as Polypropylene (PP), Polyamide (PA), Polyethylene (PE), as well as Polybutylenterephthalate (PBT), a Styrol-Copolymer (ASA) and PBT/ASA-Blends, commonly used in the automotive industry. The comparison can be seen in figures 4 and 5 of this study.…”

“…By reinforcing composites with glass or natural fibres, Isocyanate groups can react with (-OH) groups on the surface of the fibres, preventing the so-called pull-out effect of the fibres [17]. The mechanical properties achievable by creating blends from PLA and TPU have been presented detailed at scientific symposiums [19,20], and the potential of using these PLA-TPU-Blends in the automotive industry has been studied by comparing the mechanical properties with those of the PA6, PA66, PP polymers [21]. In the numerous studies carried out at IKT University of Stuttgart, remarkable was a linear decrease in PLA rigidity, as well as an exponential increase in elasticity and impact resistance of PLA -TPU -Blends, proportional to the added TPU (Figure 3).…”

“…When reinforcing PLA-TPU-Blends with fibres (glass and natural), the components also react with the groups (-OH) on the fibre surface, thus making a good connection between fibres and blends, which prevents the so-called pull-out-effect. PLA-TPU-Blends reinforced with natural fibres can be used to make the interior body elements of vehicles [17,[19][20][21].…”

“…For example, when reinforcing PA6 with glass fibres in a proportion of 30%, the dimensional stability under heat of composite PA6GF30 increases to 190-215°C, compared to 50-80°C, for PA6. In PA66 reinforcement with 30% glass fibres, the thermal stability is modified up to 235-250°C for PA66GF30, compared to 70-100°C for PA66 [6,21]. A high heat-aging resistance up to 220°C, excellent weld line strength and burst pressure performance need automotive components like air intake manifold.…”

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“…And besides, the trend toward replacing more and more metallic parts with plastic parts shows no signs of slowing. Not only can this help to reduce weight, but the design freedom afforded by plastic helps to make engines even more efficient [8].…”