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Polymers and Polymer Composites

Development and characterization of PLA/buriti fibre composites – influence of fibre and coupling agent contents

February 1, 2017 By: Brambilla V C; Beltrami L V R; Kaue Pelegrini; Zimmermann M V G; Brandalise R N; Zattera A J Research article

Title: Development and characterization of PLA/buriti fibre composites – influence of fibre and coupling agent contents
Page Range: p.143-152
Author(s): Brambilla V C; Beltrami L V R; Kaue Pelegrini; Zimmermann M V G; Brandalise R N; Zattera A J
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Journal: Polymers and Polymer Composites
Issue Year: ppc
Volume: 25
Issue No: No.2

Abstract
The use of biodegradable polymers has aroused academic and technological interest directed to the replacement of conventional polymers aiming at reducing the environmental impact caused by these materials. Vegetable fibres as reinforcement elements provide gains in mechanical, thermal and degradation properties to polymer composites. The buriti fibre (Mauritia flexuosa) is an abundant crop of easy cultivation in tropical countries and its use in composites with poly(lactic acid) (PLA), can provide the development of a material with specific features, combining good mechanical properties and excellent degradation potential to the obtained composites. In this research, PLA and buriti fibre composites were developed with the use of triacetin as coupling agent. For a 30% content by mass of fibre, the results showed that the mechanical properties of the composites were similar to those of neat PLA. This was attributed to the fibre/matrix interaction observed by the SEM analysis and to an increase in crystallinity assessed by thermal properties. 26 Refs.

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