Scientists in Brazil have developed an effective way to use fibers from pineapple and banana plants in a new generation of automotive plastics that are stronger, lighter, and more eco-friendly than plastics now in use. Speaking at 241st National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS), study leader Alcides Leão, Ph.D., said the nano-cellulose fibers from these plants are almost as stiff as Kevlar, the material used in armor and bulletproof vests, but unlike Kevlar, these fibers are completely renewable. “The properties of these plastics are incredible,” Leão said, “They are light, but very strong — 30 per cent lighter and 3-to-4 times stronger. We believe that a lot of car parts, including dashboards, bumpers, side panels, will be made of nano-sized fruit fibers in the future. For one thing, they will help reduce the weight of cars and that will improve fuel economy.” The nano-fibers are prepared by putting the leaves and stems of plants, like pineapple, in a device similar to a pressure cooker. Certain chemicals are added, and the mixture is heated over several cycles, resulting in a material that resembles talcum powder. While the process is costly, it takes just one pound of nano-cellulose to produce 100 pounds of super-strong, lightweight plastic. “So far, we’re focusing on replacing automotive plastics,” said Leão. “But in the future, we may be able to replace steel and aluminum automotive parts using these plant-based nanocellulose materials.” Leão expects that material could be ready for use within two years. The article can be viewed online at the link below.