The use of renewable resources on the development of nano-biocomposites

ANALIA VAZQUEZ

Natal Brasil

Conferencia; ISBPMat, 2007; 2007

Extensive application of synthetic and traditional polymer materials results in increasing volume of polymeric waste and methods are needed for safe and relatively quick elimination of these materials from the environment. The development of biodegradable polymers has been accepted as one of the way to reduce environmental problems by waste plastics.Starch based polymer, polycaprolactone and polyhydroxalcanoates polymer were studied. In order to modify the mechanical and physical properties of the biodegradable polymer, a new kind of biocomposites was investigated: the nanocomposites made from natural filler.  Nanoclay and cellulose fibers were used as reinforcement of biodegradable polymers.  Modified clay was utilized and it was correlated to the hydrophilic character of the polymers.  The feasibility of extracting cellulose from sisal fiber, by means of two different procedures was also carried out. The extraction procedures that were used led to purified cellulose. Finally, nano-cellulose was produced by the acid hydrolysis of obtained cellulose and characterized by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM).  Results of mechanical properties and their modelization; and barrier to vapor properties will be included.