Soy bean based Composites

Soy proteins are complex macromolecules containing some 20 amino acids (95). By extrusion cooking, soy protein polymers can be converted into biodegradable plastics. However, the main disadvantage of soy protein plastic comes from its low strength and high moisture absorption. 

The simplest and most effective way to improve the properties is to combine soy protein with a biodegradable polymer to form soy based biopol mers. The other method is to use functional monomers or oligomers to modify the soy protein during the processing of soy protein with an extruder. Casting methods or pretreatment methods with soy protein to form articles for applications can be used. 

Fiber reinforced composites can increase the scope of these materials and will increase applications in various arenas such as the automotive and packaging industries. Natural fibers such as kenaf, flax, jute, hemp, and sisal reinforced composites have been become attractive, because natural fibers have the advantages of low cost, low density, acceptable specific strength properties, ease of separation, carbon dioxide sequestration and biodegradabihty. 

agricultural plant materials such as com stalk, rice stalk, wheat straw and grass have been investigated as a potential resource for natural fibers since they are inexpensive, economically friendly. 

In general, such agro-based materials are only used as feed for livestock and not as load bearing materials. Therefore, grass reinforced composites have an excellent potential to be used as fibers. There are plenty of grass resources. Elephant grass-based biocomposites are of interest for automotive applications. 

---