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Development of composites based on recycled polyethylene/sugarcane bagasse fibers
Author(s) -
de Carvalho Neto Alberto Gomes Vieira,
Ganzerli Thiago Amaral,
Cardozo Adriano Luciano,
Fávaro Silvia Luciana,
Pereira Antonio Guilherme Basso,
Girotto Emerson Marcelo,
Radovanovic Eduardo
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
polymer composites
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.577
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1548-0569
pISSN - 0272-8397
DOI - 10.1002/pc.22720
Subject(s) - materials science , bagasse , composite material , thermogravimetric analysis , polyethylene , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , flexural strength , scanning electron microscope , ultimate tensile strength , acetic anhydride , surface modification , composite number , sodium hydroxide , izod impact strength test , extrusion , fiber , chemical engineering , pulp and paper industry , organic chemistry , chemistry , engineering , catalysis
In this work, sugarcane bagasse fibers were used as filler in composites having recycled high‐density polyethylene (PEr) as matrix. Because of the poor interaction between fibers surface and the PEr, the surface of bagasse was chemically modified. This modification consists of washing with water at 80°C, a mercerization process using sodium hydroxide and acetylation reaction with acetic anhydride. The chemical modification was characterized by Fourier transform infrared–horizontal attenuated total reflectance (FTIR‐HATR) and 13 C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies (NMR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). The composites were prepared from modified and unmodified fibers into PEr matrix, containing 5, 10, and 20% (w/w) of fiber. The samples were processed by extrusion and molds were prepared by injection process in order to perform mechanical tests. These materials were analyzed by SEM, TGA, and the water uptake was evaluated. Also, their mechanical properties were analyzed. Morphological analysis indicated that the chemical modification of sugarcane bagasse increased the compatibility between matrix and reinforcement. Tensile, flexural, and impact tests showed that the mechanical properties of the composite were improved compared to PEr due to the presence of the fibers. POLYM. COMPOS., 35:768–774, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers