Development of antistatic and biodegradable packages based on hybrid polyester composites with the addition of glassy carbon and graphene nanoplates

• Grant number: 20/12501-8
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: July 01, 2021 - June 30, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal researcher: Fabio Roberto Passador
• Grantee: Fabio Roberto Passador
• Home Institution: Instituto de Ciência e Tecnologia (ICT). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São José dos Campos. São José dos Campos , SP, Brazil
• Assoc. researchers: Gilmar Patrocínio Thim ; Larissa Stieven Montagna ; Mirabel Cerqueira Rezende

Abstract

Antistatic packaging is used to protect electronic components from damage caused by electrostatic discharges and must have a sufficiently low electrical resistivity. With the increasing demand for these components, there is an increase in polymeric waste that is often inappropriately disposed of in the environment. In order to reduce these residues, biopolymers and biodegradable polymers can be an eco-friendly solution. Among the different biopolymers, poly (lactic acid) (PLA) and poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) are good choices because they are renewable and have a biodegradable origin. However, these polymers have high electrical resistivity, a property that prevents their use for the production of antistatic packaging, requiring the addition of antistatic agents. One way is through the addition of carbon materials that are electrically conductive, such as carbon nanotubes (CNT), carbon black (CB), glassy carbon (GC), and graphene nanoplates (GNP). In this context, hybrid composites of biodegradable polyester matrices (PLA, PHBV, and PLA/PHBV blends) with the addition of different contents of GC and GNP will be prepared in a double-screw extruder followed by the preparation of standard specimens using injection molding and production of films, in order to assess biodegradability, mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties, aiming to obtain antistatic and biodegradable packaging. (AU)