Effect of chemical modification on the properties of ethylene vinyl acetate/cellulose composites

VERA ALVAREZ; CLAUDIO JAVIER PÉREZ; M. MINHAZ-UL HAQUE; MARIANO PRACELLA

San José

Congreso; XII Simposio Latinoamericano de Polímeros (SLAP 2010). X Congreso Iberoamericano de Polímeros (CIP 2010).; 2010

Incorporation of cellulosic fibres into polymer matrices offers the possibility to design new composite materials with reduced environmental impact, due to the biodegradability, renewability and low cost of natural fillers. Indeed, good dispersion of fibres in the polymer matrix and effective interfacial adhesion are important prerequisites for obtaining improved mechanical properties and performances. In the present study we focused the attention on the thermal behaviour, morphology and fibre-matrix interactions of EVA/Cellulose (EVA/Cell) composites, analysing the effectiveness of functional groups, namely maleic anhydride (MA) and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA), inserted in the polymer chains and/or on the surface of natural fibres, on the compatibility between matrix and filler [1, 2].