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Resumo:Foram estudadas as propriedades térmicas e mecânicas de compósitos de polipropileno, virgem e reciclado, reforçados com 30% em massa de fibras residuais de sisal, assim como o perfil de processamento e a morfologia da matriz polimérica. Para tanto, foram determinadas a resistência à tração, o módulo de Young, alongamento na ruptura, e energia de impacto. As amostras também foram caracterizadas por MEV, DMTA e TG. Para ambos os compósitos de polipropileno, virgem e reciclado, com a adição das fibras, o alongamento na ruptura mostrou uma queda significativa, enquanto que a resistência à tração não sofreu grandes variações. Houve um aumento significativo nos valores de tração na ruptura e de energia de impacto com a adição das fibras de sisal na matriz de polipropileno. As análises térmicas mostraram ligações secundárias, como as ligações polares, entre as fibras e a matriz, concordando com o comportamento mecânico dos compósitos. Constatou-se que a temperatura de transição vítrea não variou após a adição da fibra. Palavras-chave: Sub-produto do sisal, extrusão, compatibilidade, propriedades mecânicas, propriedades térmicas. Virgin and Recycled Polypropylene Composites Reinforced with Sisal By-ProductAbstract: The mechanical and thermal properties of virgin and recycled polypropylene composites reinforced with 30% by mass of residual sisal fibers were studied, in addition to an analysis of the extrusion process and morphology of the polymeric matrix. Tensile strength, Young's modulus, elongation at break, and impact energy were determined. The samples were also characterized by SEM, DMTA and TG analyses. Elongation at break of the composites presented a significant decrease, while the tensile strength was not affected significantly by addition of sisal fibers. A significant increase was observed in the tension of rupture and in the impact energy of the composite reinforced with sisal fiber. The thermal analyses indicated secondary interactions, such as polar interactions, between the fibers and the matrix, consistent with the mechanical behavior of the composites. The glass transition temperature has not changed after fiber addition. Keywords: Sisal by-product, extrusion, compatibility, mechanical properties, thermal properties. IntroduçãoO polietileno de baixa e alta densidade e polipropileno representam 45% da produção de plástico no mundo [1] . Particularmente, o polipropileno (PP) virgem é amplamente explorado, mas o aumento do custo das resinas plásticas, pressionado pelas constantes flutuações do preço do petróleo no mercado internacional, tem estimulado as pesquisas em reciclagem deste polímero. Normalmente, o preço do plástico reciclado é 40% mais baixo do que o da resina virgem [2] . Fernandes e Domingues analisaram-se as propriedades mecânicas de misturas de PP virgem e reciclado, em três porcentagens diferentes, por meio de ensaios de tração axial e de impacto Charpy. Esses pesquisadores concluiram que porcentagens de reciclado acima de 30% causam deterioração das propriedades mecânicas do produt...

Este trabalho apresenta os resultados do comportamento de blendas do polímero biodegradável PHB poli(hidroxibutirato) com os copoliésteres também biodegradáveis EastarBio® e Ecoflex®, na composição de 75% de PHB e 25% dos copoliésteres, em contato com solo composto simulado. Foi também avaliada a influência da adição de pó de serra ou farinha de madeira, na proporção de 70% da blenda e 30% de pó de serra (p.d.s.). A biodegradação foi avaliada para amostras após 30, 60 e 90 dias em contato com solo, através de análises gravimétricas, morfológicas e mecânicas. A preparação inicial dos grânulos dos compostos poliméricos foi feita por extrusão, utilizando uma extrusora dupla-rosca e a moldagem dos corpos de prova foi realizada através da moldagem por injeção. Os materiais estudados biodegradam nas condições testadas. A blenda PHB/EastarBio® (75/25) + 30% p.d.s. apresentou maior redução de massa, 29% após 90 dias. Notou-se que a biodegradação se inicia pela superfície do material e que 90 dias são insuficientes para observar alterações internas.

The increasing use of bioabsorbable polymeric materials in medicine has stimulated researchers in the materials field to search for solutions for the replacement of metallic artifacts by bioabsorbable polymers. Therefore, this study describes the in vitro degradation of PHBV, PCL and the blends of these polymers, both of which are bioabsorbable polymers. The samples were prepared by extrusion followed by injection, and subjected submitted to in vitro degradation in phosphate buffered saline solution with pH 7.3 and kept at 37° C. Through the characterization of the variation of mass, molar mass, mechanical properties and morphology, the results indicated that the samples analyzed are more stable to hydrolytic degradation when compared to other bioabsorbable polymers. The materials indicate signs of degradation after 30 days, with a small reduction in the molar mass. After 180 days, the materials indicated a significant reduction of molar mass and reduction in the mechanical properties

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Bioresorbable biomaterials can fill bone defects and act as temporary scaffold to recruit MSCs to stimulate their differentiation. Among the different bioresorbable polymers studied, this work focuses on poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) and poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL). Were prepared blends of PHBV and PCL to obtain PHBV based biomaterials with good tenacity, important for bone tissue repair, associated with biocompatible properties of PCL. This study assesses the viability of Vero cells on scaffolds of PHBV, PCL, and their blends and the osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Materials were characterized in surface morphology, DSC and Impact Strength (IS). Vero cells and MSCs were assessed by MTT assay, cytochemical and SEM analysis. MSC osteogenic differentiation was evaluated through alizarin red staining and ALP activity. We found some roughness onto surface materials. DSC showed that the blends presented two distinct melting peaks, characteristic of immiscible blends. IS test confirmed that PHBV-PCL blends is an alternative for increase the tenacity of PHBV. MTT assay showed cells with high metabolic activities on extract toxicity test, but with low activity in the direct contact test. SEM analysis showed spreading cells with irregular and flattened morphology on different substrates. Cytochemical study revealed that MSCs maintained their morphology, although in smaller number for MSCs. The development of nodules of mineralized organic matrix in MSC cultures was identified by alizarin red staining and osteogenic differentiation was confirmed by the quantification of ALP activity. Thus, our scaffolds did not interfere on viability of Vero cells or the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs.

This paper presents the results of a study that aimed to monitor and evaluate biodegradation in soil, by the mass loss and the mechanical properties of plastic tubes. For this work, there were extruded and injected plastic tubes made of biodegradable polymer poly(hydroxybutyrate) -(PHB) and composite PHB/Wood Flour and PHB/Sisal Fiber, both with 20% fiber. There were used three biodegradation test devices for 30, 60 and 90 days. At the end of each test, the biodegraded samples were taken from soil, washed thoroughly with water, dried and weighed to evaluate the mass loss. Mechanical properties were evaluated using flexural tests before and after biodegradation in soil. Based on the results, it was observed that all the studied tubes lost mass over the biodegradation test, and the tubes of biodegradable composites lost more weight than pure PHB.