Melt rheological behavior of starch-based matrix composites reinforced with short sisal fibers

Enhanced mechanical and long-lasting antibacterial properties of starch/PBAT blown films via designing of reactive micro-crosslinked starch

A functional starch (TPS-E) was designed and constructed by incorporating epoxy soybean oil (ESO) and an antibacterial agent polyhexamethylene guanidine hydrochloride (PHMG), then the film was prepared by reaction extrusion and blow molding using TPS-E and poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT). The micro-crosslinking structure, forming through ring-opening reaction between the epoxy active site of TPS-E and the end group of PBAT, improved the compatibility of starch/PBAT blend and reduce the dispersed starch phase size, leading to significantly increase the tensile strength. Compared to starch/PBAT films, the tensile strength of TPS-E/PBAT in the longitudinal direction increase by 112% with the same starch content of 30%. Furthermore, these TPS-E/PBAT films demonstrated long-lasting antibacterial performance with a 98% inhibition ratio even after 10 cycles, without any observed leaching of the antibacterial agent, highlighting the high coupling efficiency of PHMG. TPS-E with the degradable ESO also promotes the degradation of PBAT. Thus, an important method of synergistic improving the mechanical, degradable and antibacterial properties of blown films through the design of reactive micro-crosslinked starch structures was established.

Influence of particle size of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) on barrier property against agglomeration of homogenized microcrystalline cellulose (HMCC) in iPP/HMCC composites

Isotactic polypropylene (iPP) powders were treated by a colloid mill for different times to obtain a series of particle sizes ranging from 682 μm to 89 μm. The relative crystallinity degree index (Xc, %) calculated by X-ray diffraction, and the initial degradation temperature measured by thermogravimetry, were all reduced after the milling process, which revealed that the structure of iPP molecular chains was destroyed during the powerful shearing and friction action. Furthermore, the increasing melt flow rate (MFR) index indicated that the molecular weight of iPP had reduced during the mechanical treatment. Scanning electron micrographs showed the inevitable agglomeration of homogenized microcrystalline cellulose (HMCC) fibers after being dried directly without iPP powders. However, the addition of achieved superfine iPP powders presented a good barrier property against the agglomeration phenomenon and consequent improvement in mechanical performance of the iPP/HMCC composites.

Rheological Behaviour of Polypropylene/Kenaf Fibre Composite: Effect of Fibre Size

In evaluating thermoplastics for their effective performance during processing, rheology properties are very useful. Similarly, in designing processing apparatus, knowledge of rheological behavior of composite melt is critical. In this study, melt flow and viscosity behavior of polypropylene/kenaf fibre composite was investigated using a single-screw extruder. Subsequently, flow behavior of the compounded formulation were evaluated by comparing the melt flow index, flow curve and viscosity curve of the PP and that of the composites at 190oC processing temperature and varying the fibre size. There appears to be a positive linear increase of the apparent shear stress with increase in the apparent shear rate and, as expected, viscosity values for the composite samples are much higher than the PP especially at larger fibre size. The additional of kenaf fibre in composite reduces the MFI value basically because of the hindrances in the plastic flow of the polymer. In addition the increase in viscosity with increase in fibre loading might contributed to the high specific area of the fibre in the matrix thereby increasing the shear stress in the composite. Moreover loading of polymer system with fibre tends to disturb or disorganize the normal free movement of the polymer and certainly hindered the mobility chain segments in flow.

Incorporação de lodo industrial em compósitos de resina poliéster

A incorporação de lodo industrial (L) e fibra de crisotila (FC) na preparação de compósitos com resina poliéster (P) é uma possível alternativa para minimizar o acúmulo de resíduos sólidos. A caracterização dos compósitos estruturais com estes reforços indicou diminuição nos valores de densidade quando comparados com compósitos reforçados com fibra de vidro. Os valores máximo e mínimo de resistência ao impacto Izod, para formulações do tipo P/L/FC, foram 29,1 e 12,6 J.m-1. A incorporação de lodo contribuiu para o aumento da capacidade de isolamento térmico de compósitos com fibra de crisotila, além de preservar a estabilidade térmica da matriz polimérica. Os resultados indicaram que apesar de provocar perdas mecânicas, a incorporação de lodo em compósitos com matriz de poliéster resulta em laminados com densidade reduzida e baixa condutividade térmica.