Influence of Silver Nanoparticles on Mechanical Characteristics of Arboblend V2 Nature Lignin-Based Polymer

Abstract

The need to find materials for various common objects and more reliable and less expensive production is a major concern of society and scientists in recent decades, due to the dramatic decline in available stocks of materials from low renewable resources and massive pollution caused by the production of cement, brick, plastics or other similar products. In this sense, the use of biodegradable plastics is a more than the satisfactory alternative. However, in order to grow their performance, they constantly need to be improved, so composite materials based on biodegradable or recyclable polymers have started to be used frequently as a viable alternative. The present manuscript reveals the mechanical behavior of such composite material obtained by coating Arboblend V2 Nature granules with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The coating is intended to improve the antibacterial activity of the base material. The obtained results underlined the fact that with the incorporation of AgNPs in the polymer mass, the mechanical performances (tensile strength, bending strength, elongation, modulus of elasticity) of the material decrease visibly. Thus, the possibility of use of the parts in applications that involve exposure to pulling or bending is quite low, but can successfully replace other biodegradable/non-biodegradable polymeric materials that have metal particles in their structure and which do not present antibacterial action.