Abstract Different polymeric matrices have been investigated for use in the development of biodegradable films. The incorporation of cellulose nanocrystals in such films has particularly attracted attention because of the potential for achieving improved properties of starch nanocomposites. In the present study, cellulose nanocrystals were extracted from coconut fibers and incorporated in cassava and potato starch films at different concentrations. The properties of the different nanobiocomposite films were comparatively evaluated, including their barrier and mechanical properties. All the films, regardless of the nanocrystal concentration, were found to exhibit low solubility in water, with increased moisture content particularly observed in the films with higher nanocrystal concentrations. The potato starch film with the lowest nanocrystal concentration was found to exhibit the best mechanical properties. The observations of this study indicated that the source of the starch and the nanocrystal concentration determined the properties of the nanobiocomposite films.

This work addresses the use of piassava fibers (PF) as reinforcement for recovered polypropylene (PPr) in the manufacturing of composites. The composites were molded with variable amounts of PF (10, 20 and 30 wt%), with and without maleic anhydride functionalized polypropylene (MAPP) (10 wt%) as compatibilizer. The composites were characterized using mechanical tests (flexural, tensile, impact and hardness), thermal analyses (thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry), along with evaluations of heat deflection temperature, melting flow index, density and morphology. Tensile and flexural strength of composites increased with PF content, but impact strength decreased, since the material became stiffer. The use of MAPP in the formulations yielded superior properties, showing good fiber/matrix interaction. In all, the use of PF as reinforcement in PPr was considered an interesting way of reducing solid waste and to reinforce plastics, being a possible alternative for the substitution of wood in WPC composites.

RESUMO A adição de fibras naturais a uma matriz de polímero biodegradável tem sido uma alternativa para obter compósitos com melhores propriedades térmicas e mecânicas. Tendo em vista que as propriedades dos compósitos possam ser influenciadas pelas condições de processamento, tipo e concentração da fase dispersa, este trabalho teve como objetivo obter compósitos a partir de uma blenda comercial constituída de Poli (butileno adipato co-tereftalato) - PBAT/ Amido (EB), de caráter biodegradável, e casca de arroz (CA). Inicialmente foram preparados compósitos com PBAT/Amido contendo 10,20 e 30% de (CA) utilizando extrusora de dupla rosca e misturador interno. Posteriormente, foram determinadas propriedades mecânicas e térmicas dos sistemas obtidos. Os resultados das propriedades mecânicas mostraram que o módulo elástico dos compósitos foi afetado pelo tipo de processamento empregado, os compósitos obtidos em extrusora apresentam maior módulo que os compósitos obtidos no misturador: 92% maior em compósitos com 10% de carga, e 38% maior em compósitos com 30% de carga. A resistência ao impacto diminuiu significativamente e a resistência a tração aumentou moderadamente com o teor de casca de arroz, independente do tipo de processamento utilizado. A resistência ao impacto de compósitos com 30% de carga é aproximadamente 33% da resistência ao impacto da blenda pura. Já na resistência a tração, observou-se um aumento de 25% nos compósitos com 30% de carga. Análises de MEV indicam que as partículas de carga foram adequadamente molhadas pela matriz e que a adesão carga/matriz é boa. A avaliação dos resultados obtidos com as análises de DSC indicou que a adição de CA nos compósitos extrusados altera a temperatura de cristalização, variando de 75ºC da amostra pura, para 101ºC para as amostras com casca de arroz, resultado atribuível ao efeito nucleante causado pela maior dispersão da carga neste tipo de processamento.

ABSTRACT The addition of natural fiber is a biodegradable polymer matrix has been an alternative for composites having enhanced thermal and mechanical properties. Considering that the properties of the composite can be influenced by the processing conditions, type and concentration of the dispersed phase, this study aimed to obtain composites from a commercial blend made of Poly (butylene adipate co-terephthalate) - PBAT / Starch (EB), of biodegradable character, and rice husk (CA). Initially composites were prepared PBAT / starch containing 10, 20 and 30% (CA) using a dual extruder and internal mixer screw. Subsequently, there were certain mechanical and thermal properties of the systems obtained. The results of mechanical properties showed that the elastic modulus of the composite was affected by the type of employee processing the composites obtained in the extruder have a higher modulus than the composite obtained in the mixer: 92% higher in composites with 10% load and 38% higher in composites with 30% filler. The impact resistance decreased significantly and the tensile strength increased moderately with rice husk content, regardless of the type of processing used. The impact resistance of composites with 30% load is approximately 33% the impact resistance of the pure blend. In the tensile strength, there was a 25% increase in the composite with 30% filler. SEM analyzes indicated that the filler particles were adequately wetted by the matrix and the adhesion load / matrix was good. The evaluation of the results obtained with the DSC analysis indicated that the addition of CA in the extruded composite alter the crystallization temperature ranging from 75 ° C pure sample to 101ºC for samples with rice husk, as a result attributable to the nucleating effect caused by the greater this type of load dispersion processing.

Os depósitos de argilas bentoníticas da Paraíba se constituem no maior e mais importante jazimento deste bem mineral do Brasil. Suas ocorrências estão situadas no Município de Boa Vista e seus depósitos encontram-se nas minas Lages, Bravo, Juá e Canudos. As bentonitas de Boa Vista ficaram conhecidas pela sua capacidade de inchar na presença de água, desenvolvendo géis tixotrópicos após tratamento com Na2CO3, bem como pela sua variedade de cores. Este trabalho tem como objetivo apresentar a caracterização mineralógica e as propriedades reológicas de três variedades de argilas bentoníticas de Boa Vista, denominadas de Bofe, Chocolate e Verde-lodo, provenientes cada uma delas de duas diferentes minas. As argilas foram caracterizadas por meio de ensaios de análise química, análise térmica diferencial e análise termogravimétrica. O estudo reológico foi realizado por meio da determinação das viscosidades aparente e plástica, em viscosímetro Fann 35A e o volume de filtrado em filtro-prensa Fann em dispersões com 4,86% em massa de argila aditivadas com diferentes teores de Na2CO3. Os resultados mostraram que embora as argilas provenientes das diferentes minas apresentem cores e composição mineralógica semelhantes, apresentam propriedades reológicas bastante diferentes após tratamento com Na2CO3. Esse comportamento diferenciado classifica e condiciona a aplicação industrial de cada variedade de argila.

The deposits of bentonite clays at Paraíba are the bigger and more important deposits of this type of mineral in Brazil. It is located in Boa Vista city and can be found in Lages, Bravo, Juá, and Canudos mines. These clays became well known because of their capacity of swelling in the presence of water, developing thixotropic gels after treatment with Na2CO3, as well as by their different colours. The aim of this work is to present a comparative study of the mineralogical composition and rheology of three bentonite clays namely Bofe, Chocolate and Verde-lodo, each one from two different mines of Boa Vista, PB. The clays were caracterizated by chemical analysis, differential thermal analysis and thermogravimetric analysis. The natural bentonite clays were transformed into sodium bentonite by addition of different concentrations of Na2CO3. The dispersions were prepared with 4.86wt% in order to measure their apparent and plastic viscosities by Fann 35A viscosimeter and water loss by pressing-filter. The results showed that the bentonite clays from different mines present similar colours and mineralogical composition, but their rheological properties became different after treatment with Na2CO3. This difference at this behavior allows to classify and to indicate the industrial application of each type of clay.