Aiming to systematically convert post-consumer plastics in building materials, we compounded recycled high-density polyethylene and sugarcane bagasse. We ranged the polymer/filler ratio from 100/0 to 60/40, and assessed the properties using optical microscopy, water absorption test, adhesion by tape test, low-field nuclear magnetic resonance, dynamic-mechanical analysis, and wide-angle X-ray diffractometry. The optical microscopy of the triturated bagasse showed the reduced and heterogeneous fiber sizes. The absorption and adhesion test showed that the polymer more heavily filled with bagasse can better absorb and anchor paint with organic solvent base. The dynamic-mechanical analysis and wide-angle X-ray diffractometry led us to believe that the bagasse fibers somehow structured the amorphous region amongst the crystallized lamellae of the polymeric matrix. We concluded that these composites have interesting properties to produce building materials.

No abstract

We prepared composites of recycled polypropylene and construction debris aiming to obtain a sustainable hybrid material, with prospective application in the construction industry. We varied the amount of debris in 0, 1, 2, 3 and 7 m/m/% and the compounded materials were analysed by scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetry/derivative thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, melt flow rate, wide angle X-ray diffractometry, nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation time and dynamic mechanical analysis. The melt flow rate varied non-linearly according to the debris content. The thermal stability of recycled polypropylene was slightly improved due to the presence of debris particles. The degree of crystallinity of the recycled polypropylene also showed a non-linear change, and we noticed some transcrystallization phenomenon in the polymeric matrix. The glass transition temperature decreased for all composites, denoting an increase in the segmental mobility of the polymeric chains. Considering the domains curves of the nuclear magnetic resonance, there was some interaction between polymer and debris particles, mainly ascribed to the nanometric portion of the hybrid debris particles. We concluded that this hybrid composite may become of great interest to the construction industry, used as replacement for closing boards.

No abstract

There are several chemicals for using as ultraviolet (UV) absorbers. Considering that titanium phosphate (TiP) not yet studied for this purpose, we intended to investigate its effect on poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET). TiP was synthesized and intercalated with two types of long-chain amine, octadecylamine (OETiP) and ether-amine-O-(2-aminopropyl)-O′-(2-methoxyethyl)polypropylene glycol) (JETiP) being the intercalation assisted by ethylamine. Nanocomposites of PET/TiP (filled with 5 wt%) (PET-TiP, PET-OETiP, and PET-JETiP) were prepared by melting extrusion. Thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, hydrogen low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (1H LFNMR), and UV-visible (Vis) absorption were used for characterizations. OETiP and JETiP induced the decrease of PET glass transition temperature ( T g) and heat crystallization temperature ( T ch) while PET crystallinity degree ( X c), cold crystallization temperature ( T cc), and crystallization rate increased. WAXD suggested the intercalation of PET chains inside of fillers lamellae. According to 1H LFNMR, all fillers increased the PET molecular mobility. Diffuse reflectance revealed increase of the absorption at UV light region. The sample might be thought as a UV absorber.