Mechanical and fracture characterization of biodegradable polymer/polyolefin-natural fibers systems

LEANDRO N. LUDUEÑA; ARIEL L. STOCCHI; MINHAZ-UL HAQUE; MARIANO PRACELLA; VERA ALVAREZ

Bahía Blanca

Simposio; IX Simposio argentino de polímeros SAP 2011; 2011

Universidad Nacional de Bahía Blanca

In this, work ternary systems: biodegradable polymer/polyolefin/natural fibers were prepared and characterized. MaterBi K (MBK) was selected as biodegradable polymer, Polypropylene (PP), High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and Polystyrene (PS) as polyolefin and hemp as natural fibers. In order to improve the matrix/fiber and MBK/PP compatibilities, alkaline treatment of fibers were carried out and an adequate compatibilizer (PP-g-MA; HDPE-g-MA and SEBS-g-MA, respectively) was employed in different amounts. The effect of polyolefin and compatibilizer incorporation, on the fracture properties of MBK was determined. In order to analyze the effect of compatibilizer content on the studied properties, different amount of PP-g-MA were used in the case of PP/MBK and PP/MBK/Hemp systems. Tensile strength () decreased when PP was incorporated to MBK In the case of composites, tensile strength increased with PP and fibers incorporation whereas modulus remained almost constant for all studied composites (being twice of those of matrices). Fracture toughness were improved with the blending of the batch with polymers and polyolefins, The higher values were obtained for unmodified Polystyrene and 80% batch but in all cases the incorporation of compatibilizer did not affect the results significantly.