Use of Natural Fibers for Enhancing Polymeric Materials

In the framework of the AGROinLOG European Project (Grant Agreement No 727961) from Horizon 2020, the potential to produce biomaterials with the fodder surplus during the agroindustry idle periods has been studied. Different value-added bio-composites based on a matrix of polypropylene and reinforced with natural fibers from wheat and corn straw were produced. Natural fiber percentages of 10%, 15%, 20% and 30% wt have been tested by means extrusion compounding and injection obtaining the optimal process conditions and rheological and mechanical behavior as results. As final stage of the study a preliminary economical evaluation for the production of plastic composites reinforced with natural fibers from the agroindustry point of view were carried out.