Biocomposites, i.e., biopolymers reinforced with natural fibers, offer an environmentally benign
alternative structural material for automotive applications. Cellulose esters (bioplastic made
from cellulose) are potentially useful biosourced polymers. By embedding inexpensive plantbased
cellulosic fibers (chopped hemp fiber) into a biopolymeric matrix (cellulose ester) novel
biocomposites have been made utilizing two different processing approaches: powder impregnation
(process I) and extrusion followed by injection molding (process II). The resulting
biocomposites have been evaluated for their physicomechanical and thermomechanical properties.
Cellulose acetate plasticized with 30% citrate plasticizer proved to be a better matrix compared
to polypropylene (PP) for hemp fiber reinforcements in terms of flexural and damping properties.
Biocomposites with 30 wt % of industrial hemp fiber processed through extrusion and injection
molding exhibited a flexural strength of 78 MPa and modulus of elasticity of 5.6 GPa. Cellulose
acetate butyrate plastic (CABP) proved to be a better matrix than plasticized cellulose acetate
(CAP) for biocomposite applications. The fiber-matrix adhesions are evaluated through
environmental scanning microscopy (ESEM) analysis.