Eco-friendly composites of polyurethane and sheath palm residues

Author(s)

Zanini, Noelle C. ^[1] ; de Souza, Alana G. ^[2] ; Barbosa, Rennan F. S. ^[2] ; Rosa, Derval S. ^[2] ; Mulinari, Daniella R. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Estado Rio de Janeiro, Dept Mech & Energy, Resende - Brazil

^[2] Fed Univ ABC UFABC, Ctr Engn Modeling & Appl Social Sci CECS, Santo Andre, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF CELLULAR PLASTICS; v. 58, n. 1, p. 139-158, JAN 2022.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

This work prepared eco-friendly biocomposites of polyurethane (PU) and sheath palm residues, using castor oil as a polyol. PU composites filled with natural fibers were prepared at different loading rates: 0 to 20 wt.%. Results indicated that the sheath palm was hydrogen-bonded to PU chains and increased the foams' density. Pore size decreased with an increase in fiber content, from 256 to 116 mu m. The fiber's addition improved the ductility of PU foams (compressive modulus from 4.74 to 0.26 MPa) and the foams' crystallinity index (from 5.4 to 15.4%). Compared to pristine PU, the composites showed high hydrophobicity (reaching 123 degrees of contact angle for PU-15%) and thermal stability (T-onset from 96 to 96.3 degrees), and high density (from 41 to 60 kg.m(-3)), making the developed composites an excellent option for environmental applications, such as oil removal and contaminant adsorption. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/11277-7 - PBAT films with cellulose nanostructures treated with essential oils encapsulated for active packaging
• Grantee: Derval dos Santos Rosa
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants