Biocompósito de polipropileno reforçado com fibras de juta da Amazônia: melhoramento e estudo das propriedades mecânicas

Abstract

Jute (Corchorus sp.), originally from India, grows extraordinarily in the floodplains of the Amazon and produces an indispensable fiber in the market. Thus, this work aims to develop polypropylene biocomposites reinforced with 1%, 5% and 10% of jute fibers from the Amazon, from the process of extrusion and plastic injection. To improve the adhesion between the matrix and the reinforcing filler, chemical treatment of mercerization was carried out on the fibers and later mixed in an extruder. The biocomposites were developed by the plastic injection process. The tensile, impact, humidity, water absorption, swelling and ash tests showed that there is a significant difference between biocomposites and polypropylene. In addition, the 1% and 5% fillers showed a level of stability compared to polypropylene. The results prove that jute biocomposites improve some mechanical properties and stabilize others. These results should provide a new field for the development of Jute from the Amazon.