Viabilidade de compósitos poliméricos de polipropileno reforçados com fibra de bambu

Abstract

The aim of this research was to evaluate the mechanical properties of polymeric composites made of polypropylene matrix with the addition of bamboo fibers (Dendrocalamus strictus). For this purpose, the bamboo was processed in a hammer mill. The resulting particles were selected by its granulometry, characterized through basic moisture test, bulk density and total of extractives, lignin and ash, and dried to a moisture content of 3 %. While, polypropylene was purchased from local businesses. Four specimens from each treatment (80 % polypropylene and 20 % bamboo fibers; 100 % polypropylene) were molded from these two raw materials were shaped in a forming hot box, and subjected to static bending tests, in order to obtain the modulus of elasticity (MOE) and modulus of rupture (MOR). The influence of the addition of bamboo fibers in polypropylene matrices was verified through a statistical analysis of variance (ANOVA) at 5 % significance. The results showed that bamboo fibers presented high values of lignin, holocellulose, density and extractives, concomitant to ash and moisture values compatible with other researches. Furthermore, the properties of composites containing the addition of this natural material did not show statistically different values in relation to the reference samples. The absolute values of MOE and MOR, experienced increasing and decreasing trends with the incorporation of bamboo fiber respectively. Therefore, it has not been possible to demonstrate the viability of this level of bamboo fibers addition in polypropylene matrix composites and it is recommended, in future works, to carry out pretreatments on the fibers and/or addition of different levels of these lignocellulosic materials in the composite.