Flexural properties of biodegradable composites of poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) and colihue cane

ÉLIDA B. HERMIDA; FRANCISCO POVOLO,

Buenos Aires

Congreso; 3rd. International conference on Science and Technology of Composite Materials; 2005

Argentina is the second world producer of organic fruits and vegetables (2.8 millions ha/ world area of 15.8 millions ha) [1]. Since environmental regulations tend to impose "biodegradable packaging" for these products, the development of biodegradable composites becomes a priority. Plastized starch pulp, cellophane or corrugated board trays present some disadvantages such as hydrophilicity, cost or degradation temperature [2]. Biodegradable polyesters such as polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) or poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) have adequate mechanical properties and good moisture, oxygen and carbon dioxide permeability; however their cost is about five times that of a petrochemical plastic with similar properties [3]. Versatility of vegetable fibres (flax, hemp, cellulose and jute) has been tested in in mixtures with PHB [4] and PHBV [5,6]. Hence, a composite with cheap and biodegradable filler might be an alternative to reduce the price of the bio packaging. Furthermore, if the goal is to improve the quality of the environment, we should think of profiting species which deforestation obey to socio-economical reasons. Such is the case of the colihue cane (Chuscuea coleou), a cane of the bamboo family, that when dead becomes a combustible material that spreads fires along the forest. Another drawback associated to the seed production of colihue canes, is the proliferation of rodents with the possible transmission to local people of the virus Hanta that may cause the death. In summary, finding profit of the colihue cane will contribute to solve problems that exceed the field of materials science. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to study mechanical properties of composites of PHBV filled with colihue cane powder.