Development and characterization of biocomposites: polymeric matrix of hips reinforced with Imperata brasiliensis fibers

Abstract

The growing technological advance has brought with it the concern in the development of minimum environmental impact, as sustainable development predicts. In this sense, natural fibers have been used as reinforcement in composites with polymeric matrix, an alternative to decrease the sintetic materials, as fiberglass, besides adding value to the natural raw material. The present work aims to develop and characterize a biocomposite with polymeric matrix of High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS) reinforced with natural fibers from Imperata brasiliensis, an invasive plant wich is present in several regions of Brazil. The fibers will be passed by a sequence of chemical treatments, first acetosolv pulping with acetic acid to remove lignin followed by bleaching with sodium hydroxide (NaOH 4% m/v) and hidrogen peroxide (H2O2 30%v/v), aims to obtain a fiber with high amount of cellulose and improving the interaction between polymer-fiber. Untreated and treated Imperata brasiliensins fibers will be characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (DRX), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA-DTG) and also by water absorption analysis. To product the biocomposite, a mixture of the polymer and 10%, 20% and 30% (w/w) of treated fibers (acetosolv and bleaching) will be made in a termokinect mixer, followed by milling and injection. Samples from pure HIPS will be also inject to compare its properties. Finally, TGA-DTG, SEM, FTIR, and water absorption will be made with all samples, beside of tensile and impact tests to evaluate the effect of treatments and the fibers percentage in the final properties of biocomposites. (AU)