Improving In-Vehicle Air Quality with Bio-Additive ABS Composites

In recent years, significant research efforts have focused on improving indoor air quality in vehicles and reducing volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. Interior trim components release harmful gases, particularly under elevated temperature conditions, due to the degradation of organic structures, posing health risks to passengers. This risk is especially critical for children and animals who are exposed to prolonged travel periods in service vehicles. In this study, bio-based additives were incorporated into recycled acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) matrices used in interior trim sheet production to reduce environmental impacts and improve thermal performance. A mixture obtained from marine-origin algae and terrestrial plant powders (nettle, oak, and poplar leaves) was added to recycled ABS at 2 wt%. Total Organic Carbon (TOC) measurements were conducted under ambient conditions. Results showed that carbon emissions from bio-additive plates were 87.7% lower than those from non-additive plates. These findings demonstrate that natural additives exhibit gas adsorption capabilities within ABS matrices and offer an effective and sustainable alternative for improving in-vehicle air quality. In this context, the present work provides an important contribution both to recycling-based polymer utilization and to the development of eco-friendly, bio-composite automotive materials.