Study of the use of lignin as compatibilizer agent in polypropylene composites reinforced by cellulose from sugarcane bagasse and straw

• Grant number: 13/18448-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: February 16, 2014
• End date: June 15, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Chemical Technology
• Principal Investigator: Adilson Roberto Gonçalves
• Grantee: Patrícia Câmara Miléo
• Supervisor: Ingo Burgert
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de Lorena (EEL). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Lorena , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Dubendorf, Switzerland
• Associated to the scholarship: 10/20414-6 - Study of lignins utilization as coupling agent in polypropylene composites reinforced with cellulose from sugarcane bagasse and straw, BP.DR

Abstract

The development of polymeric composite materials using natural fibers as reinforcement is growing and are occupying new market segments, due to the low cost of fiber, biodegradability, low density and good mechanical properties. The main objective of this work is to study the use of lignin as compatibilizer agent in polypropylene composites reinforced with celulose from sugarcane bagasse and straw. For this, Sugarcane bagasse and straw were submitted to diluted acid pretreatment, alkaline delignification and enzymatic treatment prior bleaching. Lignin was obtained by the acid precipitation of the black liquor from the delignification step. Lignin was also oxidated to increase its hydrophobicity. Polypropylene (PP) composites reinforced from 5 to 40 wt% of bleached cellulose fibers and from 5 to 20%wt/wt of lignin (oxidized or not) from sugarcane bagasse and straw were prepared in a thermokinetic mixer. For the characterization of the fibers and composites, it will be used techniques of scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffractometry, FTIR, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry and chemical characterization of the fibers. The mechanical properties of the composites will be studied through standard tests of tensile strength, flexural strength and impact resistance. Moisture absorption of the materials will be also studied. (AU)