Efeito da modificação do PP reciclado e do resíduo da fibra de piaçava nas propriedades mecânicas, térmicas e morfológicas dos compósitos

Abstract

Composite materials that have vegetable fibers have been studied and employed in industry for combinations of properties that cannot be achieved by conventional materials. Among the fibers, piassava fiber residue is a renewable material and when used as reinforcement in polypropylene (PP) can result in low cost composites and good mechanical properties. The objective of this work is to use this residue washed with soap solution or treated with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) at concentrations of 5 and 15% by mass, while PP was modified with the addition of 2% maleic anhydride modified polyethylene (PEMA) as a compatibilizing agent. The composites were prepared using a twin screw extruder and injection molded. Then these materials were characterized in relation to their thermal, mechanical and morphological properties. The composites PPrec / 15% of treated fibers were highlighted among the other compositions due its good adhesion. Furthermore, this composite showed a 6% reduction in melt index and a 22% increase in elastic modulus when compared to PPrec.