Advanced properties of composites of recycled high-density polyethylene and microfibers of sugarcane bagasse

Abstract

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.

Sustainable hybrid composites of recycled polypropylene and construction debris

“…Filler dispersion, polymer-filler interaction, ease or restriction of chain mobility – among others – can be inferred. 27–29 Figure 10 and Table 6 show the domain curves and relaxation time intervals of the materials. The neat rPP presented two domains of relaxation.…”

What Has Been the Focus of Sugarcane Research? A Bibliometric Overview

“…Another important research area regarding sugarcane bagasse is related to its use as a solid fuel for energy generation and as raw material for production of liquid fuels and chemicals [44]; therefore, a significant amount of research has been done in order to evaluate different pretreatments to improve its energy production capacity [45], e.g., enzyme addition and solids loading [46]. A third venue of research includes other uses of sugarcane bagasse for other industries, e.g., the textile [47], plastic [48], construction [49,50], pharmaceutical [51], and chemical industries [52], among others. Some of these alternative uses have greater added value than the current and conventional ones [53].…”

Estudo da influência do teor de fibras e de compatibilizante na obtenção de compósitos de polietileno de alta densidade pós-consumo (PEADpc) com fibras de bagaço de cana-de-açúcar (BCA)

“…Milhares de toneladas de produtos de resíduos lignocelulósicos são geradas no país. O bagaço pode ser reaproveitado como combustível, gerando energia, como adubo, ração e produção de materiais compósitos (CESTARI et al, 2018;El-FATTAH et al, 2015;SANJAY et al, 2018;VÄISÄNEN et al, 2016;VÄISÄNEN et al, 2017).…”

“…A natureza apolar (hidrofóbico) do PEAD o torna incompatível com as fibras de bagaço de cana--de-açúcar que, por sua vez, apresentam caráter polar (hidrofílica), dificultando a interação entre fibra e polímero. Assim, torna-se imprescindível o uso de um agente compatibilizante, que poderá reduzir as tensões interfaciais entre a carga e a matriz, proporcionando um maior molhamento, bem como uma adesão mais adequada, facilitando a transferência de esforços entre os componentes (CESTARI et al, 2018;NETO et al, 2014;KU et al, 2011;LIGOWSKI et al, 2015). O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência do teor de fibras de BCA 10, 20 e 30% (m/m) e do compatibilizante (PE-g-MA) 3 e 5% (m/m) nas propriedades físico-mecânicas, estruturais e térmicas dos compósitos, utilizando-se o polietileno de alta densidade pós-consumo (PEADpc).…”