Composites of recycled high density polyethylene (HDPE-R) and coffee dregs (COFD) were elaborated. The blends were made at the proportions of 100-0, 90-10, 80-20, 70-30, 60-40, 50-50 and 40-60% polymer-filler ratio. The materials were evaluated through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry/derivative thermogravimetry (TGA), and compressive resistance test. The compounding was done using a two-stage co-kneader system extruder, and then cylindrical specimens were injection molded. All composites had a fine dispersion of the COFD into the polymeric matrix. The composites degraded in two steps. The first one was in a temperature lower than the neat HDPE, but higher than the average processing temperature of the polymer. The melting temperature and the degree of crystallinity of the composites resulted similar to the neat HDPE ones. The compressive moduli of the composites resulted similar to the neat polymer one. The results show that these composites have interesting properties as a building material.

Este trabalho tem como objetivo a incorporação da mica à matriz do elastômero termoplástico de poliuretano (TPU) tipo poliéter, para o desenvolvimento de novos materiais nos quais as propriedades inerentes da mica possam ser combinadas às do TPU. Este elastômero termoplástico tem alto custo, ao contrário da mica, que é de baixo custo e abundante no Brasil. Os diferentes compósitos, com teores de mica variando de 0 a 20 phr (por cem partes de resina), foram preparados em misturador interno, acoplado a um reômetro de torque Haake. Estes compósitos foram analisados termicamente por análise termogravimétrica (TGA) e análise dinâmico-mecânica (DMA). Foi observado que a incorporação de mica ao TPU altera as propriedades dinâmico-mecânicas bem como a estabilidade térmica deste polímero em diferentes atmosferas. A adição de mica desloca o início da degradação para temperaturas mais baixas nas duas atmosferas (inerte e oxidante) e a temperatura de transição vítrea tem ligeira diminuição com o aumento do teor de mica. Os resultados decorrem principalmente das interações entre a mica e o segmento rígido do TPU, durante o processamento em misturador interno.

This work is aimed at incorporating mica to the matrix of a polyether type thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (TPU), for the development of new materials in which the inherent properties of mica could be combined to those of TPU. This thermoplastic elastomer has high cost, unlike mica, which is inexpensive and abundant in Brazil. The different composites, with the mica contents varying from 0-20 phr (per hundred resin) were prepared in an internal mixer, coupled to a Haake torque rheometer. These composites had their thermal properties analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The incorporation of mica caused changes in the thermal stability of TPU in different atmospheres and in its dynamic mechanical properties. The addition of mica shifted the onset of degradation to lower temperatures in the two atmospheres (inert and oxidizing), while the glass transition temperature decreased slightly with increasing mica content. The results stem mainly from the interactions between mica and TPU hard segments during processing in the internal mixer.