Composites based on renewable materials: Polyurethane-type matrices from forest byproduct/vegetable oil and reinforced with lignocellulosic fibers

Author(s)

Ramires, Elaine C. ^[1] ; de Oliveira, Fernando ^[1] ; Frollini, Elisabete ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Ctr Sci & Technol BioResources, Macromol Mat & Lignocellulos Fibers Grp, Inst Chem Sao Carlos, BR-13560970 Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Journal of Applied Polymer Science; v. 129, n. 4, p. 2224-2233, AUG 15 2013.
• Web of Science Citations: 10

Abstract

The use of products and byproducts from the agro-industry and forest biorefinery is essential for the development of value-added and low environmental-impact materials. In this study, polyurethanes were prepared using sodium lignosulfonate (NaLS) and castor oil (CO) as reagents and were used to prepare composites reinforced with lignocellulosic fibers, namely, curaua and coir fibers (30 wt %, 3 cm length, and randomly oriented). The SEM images of fractured surfaces of the composites revealed excellent adhesion at the fiber/matrix interface of both coir and curaua composites, which probably resulted from the favorable interactions between polar groups, as well as amid low polarity domains that are present in both the matrix and the reinforcements. The composites exhibited different impact/flexural and strength/flexural moduli (NaLS/CO/Curaua = 465 Jm1/44 MPa/2 GPa; NaLS/CO/Coir = 180 Jm1/25 MPa/1 GPa). The higher tensile strength/aspect ratio of the curaua fibers (485 MPa/259) compared with that of the coir fibers (120 MPa/130) most likely contributes to the enhanced performance of its composite. (c) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013 (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 09/16249-2 - Biocomposites from lignin-polyurethane matrices reinforced by lignocellulosic fibers
• Grantee: Elaine Cristina Ramires
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral