Abstract:
The automotive industry's pursuit of lightweight, sustainable materials, coupled with
the environmental challenge of managing agricultural waste, necessitates innovative
material solutions. This research addresses this dual challenge by investigating the
viability of using pig hair—an abundant and underutilized by-product of the pork
industry—as a reinforcement in a polypropylene (PP) matrix. The study aimed to
develop and optimize a novel biocomposite and characterize its mechanical and
physical properties for potential automotive applications. Using a compression molding
technique, pig hair fibers were pre-treated with a 5% NaOH solution and incorporated
into a PP matrix. A Central Composite Design (CCD) under Response Surface
Methodology (RSM) was employed to systematically optimize three key process
parameters: Fiber length (7-15 mm), Fiber weight fraction (2-6 wt%), and molding
temperature (170-190°C). The resulting composites were characterized for their tensile,
flexural, and impact strength, as well as their morphology and thermal conductivity.
The statistical analysis revealed that all three parameters significantly influenced the
composite's mechanical properties. The optimized process conditions were identified
as a Fiber length of 11.25 mm, a Fiber weight fraction of 4.5%, and a molding
temperature of 183.4°C, which yielded a maximum predicted tensile strength of 24.16
MPa. The composite also demonstrated improved thermal insulation compared to virgin
PP. The key conclusion of this study is that pig hair can be effectively utilized as a
reinforcing fiber to produce a viable, lightweight composite with predictable
mechanical properties suitable for non-structural automotive components like interior
trim and door panels. It is recommended that future research explore the use of coupling
agents to further enhance fiber-matrix adhesion. For policy and practice, it is
recommended that abattoirs and agricultural bodies explore the implementation of
collection and pre-processing systems to create a new value chain for pig hair,
transforming this waste product into a valuable industrial feedstock
