Biocomposites have gained attention in the packaging industry due to their potential as sustainable alternatives to conventional synthetic materials. In this study, novel cotton incorporated poly(lactic acid)/thermoplastic starch biocomposites were developed for packaging applications using in short shelf life products the extrusion method. Pelletized samples obtained by extrusion were stamped from plates obtained by compression and were characterized through measurement of density, hardness, contact angle and water absorption, as well as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). No significant changes in the density results were observed. A slight increase in the hardness of formulations in relation to the PLA was associated with the presence of cotton fiber in biocomposites. The FTIR results revealed physical interaction of PLA, TPS and cotton fiber. By DSC analysis, for all formulations the melting exhibited only one peak, suggesting good homogeneity and interaction among the components, as observed by TG/DTG results, and corroborating SEM analysis. The biocomposite PLA/TPS/Cotton 85/10/5 wt.% displayed greater increase in water absorption than both 95/5/0 and 90/5/5 wt.% formulations, which can be attributed to the increase in starch proportion, confirming the contact angle results. The hydrophilic tendency corroborated the biodegradation process in the packaging end-of-life. materials study polylactic poly lactic acid/thermoplastic acidthermoplastic acid /thermoplastic thermoplastic method FTIR, , (FTIR) SEM. . (SEM) peak components TGDTG TG DTG PLATPSCotton Cotton 85105 85 10 5 85/10/ wt wt. 9550 95 0 95/5/ 9055 90 90/5/ proportion endoflife. endoflife end life. end-of-life (FTIR (SEM 8510 8 1 85/10 955 9 95/5 905 90/5 851 85/1 95/ 90/ 85/

In this work muscovite was ultrasonically treated to obtain composites with post-industrial wood plastic residues. The muscovite was ultrasonicated for 30 or 60 min and mixed with the polymeric matrix at a constant level of 15% (weight percentage). The composites were prepared in a single-screw extruder and formed into flat films for characterization. SEM images of the ultrasonicated muscovite revealed the occurrence of delamination, while the particle size distribution results suggested a decrease in size with longer sonication time. FTIR spectra also indicated the occurrence of delamination of the material. The composites exhibited a slight increase in density and a large increase in impact resistance of the samples with ultrasonicated muscovite. The XRD of the composites suggested the occurrence of alignment of the mineral in the matrix. The results indicate that ultrasonication is an effective method to improve the interaction and dispersion of muscovite with wood plastic waste to obtain composites. postindustrial post industrial residues 3 6 15 weight percentage. percentage . percentage) singlescrew single screw characterization time material 1

Abstract Hybrid composites were prepared using recycled polypropylene (rPP), dimension stone waste (Bege Bahia, BB) and coconut fiber (CF). Post-consumer the formulations of rPP/BB/CF and virgin PP, were processed in a Haake mixer. The films were characterized according to chemical, physical and mechanical properties. Multiple linear regression tests were used to develop mathematical models, which allow simulating the behavior of the composition of composite on mechanical properties. Density variations were associated with differences in particle packing and particle wall roughness. The impact resistance of rPP/BB/CF was slightly higher in the 70/10/20 wt% composite. SEM micrographs of the ternary (70/20/10 wt%) showed stronger traces of decohesion, allowing higher water absorption and reducing impact resistance. The response surface methodology suggest that the increase in the variable “coconut fiber content” is responsible for improving the mechanical properties of the composite. The ternary composite (70/10/20 wt%) was best for replacement of virgin PP.

Abstract Composites based on recycled high-density polyethylene (rHDPE) and muscovite mica, with different rHDE/mica ratios (100/0, 95/5, 90/10, 85/15 and 80/20, weight percentage) were prepared in an internal mixer with roller-type rotors at temperature of 170 ºC for 10 minutes. The materials obtained were characterized by tests of density, Shore hardness D and melt-flow index, along with infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry and scanning electron microscopy. The hardness analysis confirmed the action of mica as a reinforcing load in the matrix, but this effect stabilized at around 15%. The TG analysis showed that the 85/15 composite presented slightly better performance than the 80/20, indicating that mica, up to 15%, caused disorganization of the polymer structure instead of reinforcing it. The DSC results revealed that the composites had slightly lower melting temperatures than the matrix. The FTIR spectrum indicated there was no chemical interaction between the rHDPE and mica.