Desenvolvimento de compósitos de amido termoplástico reforçados com fibras de curauá natural da Amazônia eco-compósitos de amido com fibras de curauá

Abstract

This study aimed the synthesis and characterization of composites based in thermoplastic starch reinforced with curaua fibers from Amazon with percentage of reinforcement ranging from 0 to 20%. The plates were manufactured by termoprensagem. For the characterization, traction tests, water absorption, thermogravimetry were performed, in addition to analysis by scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that the tensile strength and the modulus of elasticity of the materials increase until in 79 and 429%, respectively, with increasing fiber content, and the water absorption. The maximum tensile strength obtained was 5.71 MPa by material with 20% fiber. The incorporation of fibers in the matrix did not change the thermal stability of the composites, because the degradation temperatures remained stable. The images obtained by electron microscopy showed that the fiber arrangement has been smooth and the percentage of fiber interfered in failure mode, which was confirmed by visual examination of the fracture surface by means of microscopy.