Soybean Research

A new class of engineered green composites from soy meal/soy stalk hybrid and nano-structure controlled soy-based bioresins
 Dr. Manju Misra and Dr. Amar Mohanty, University of Guelph

This project looks to find value-added engineering uses of soybean with a target to provide economic returns to Ontario soybean growers. The main idea is to bind soy meal (SM) and soy stalk (SS) with soy-oil (SO) based bioresin in engineering a novel class of green composites.

Photograph of soy fibre (From various parts of the stalk).


Through a new and innovative approach, for the first time in the scientific literature, this project looks to find synergy from three soy components, SM, SS and SO, in designing biomaterials for sustainable applications for automotive, building and furniture industries. The co-related activities of this research include:

1. Engineering of soy meal and soy stalk as efficient reinforcements for composite fabrication.
2. To develop a very competent matrix system (a binder for SM & SS hybrids) through nanotechnology e.g. a nano-structure controlled soy-based bio-resin through blending functionalized soybean oil, epoxy resin and nano-scopic hyperbranched polymer (HBP) additive with appropriate chemistry.
3. Pilot-scale commercial prevalent processing of these soy-based green composites and their properties evaluation.
4. Preliminary economic analysis, commercialization plan and outreach activities.

We are proposing new methods to develop novel materials and products from the soy-based materials.

Scanning electron microscopy images of (left to right) untreated (A) and bio-treated for various durations (B, C and D) soy fibres.

With this project we will be able to manufacture industrial products which can be used in applications such as automotives (body panel, under body shield, seat bases, body structure etc.), building products (floor covering, kitchen and lavatory sinks, shower bases, roof tiles, exterior door panels structure foam), electronic components (enclosures and insulating panels), packaging trays and containers. With our previous research on soy oil and protein based materials and other natural fibers we have the experience to produce the innovative products.