Development and characterization of pig hair reinforced polypropylene composites for potential Automobile applications

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