Eucalyptus lignin as stabilizer for PP and HDPE in environmental aging

• Grant number: 12/11284-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2012
• End date: July 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Marco-Aurelio de Paoli
• Grantee: Bruno Tavares Luppi
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 10/17804-7 - Polymeric composites, AP.TEM

Abstract

In this project the stabilizing activity of eucaliptus lignin towards polyolefins will be investigated. Eucaliptus lignin has a high concentration of chemical groups with antioxidant activity, in comparison to other vegetal species. This lignin is a byproduct of the Kraft bleaching process used to produce cellulose from Eucaliptus wood. For this study different formulations of polypropylene, PP, and high density polyethylene, HDPE, will be prepared containing lignin and a secondary stabilizer. These will be aged by environmental exposure. The formulations will be prepared by extrusion and the test samples by injection molding. The mechanical properties and chemical characteristics of the samples will be monitored by tensile and flexural tests and infrared spectroscopy analysis. Moreover, a thermogravimetric analysis will be made to verify the thermal stability variation of the compounds when lignin is used as primary antioxidant. (AU)