A incorporação de nanocargas minerais e vegetais em matriz polimérica tem sido estudada, principalmente, com o objetivo de melhorar as propriedades de desempenho mecânico dos polímeros para aplicações industriais diversas. As argilas organofilizadas e as fibras vegetais estão entre os materiais que se destacam como cargas adicionadas ao polímero para a formação de nanocompósitos. Essa área de estudo tem despertado interesse também devido à obtenção de melhorias de propriedades físicas, químicas e mecânicas desses materiais quando comparadas às dos materiais compósitos tradicionais. O objetivo da pesquisa foi estudar algumas dessas propriedades em nanocompósitos produzidos com polipropileno, argila esmectítica brasileira e fibra do ouriço da castanha-do-brasil, com ênfase na melhora das propriedades mecânicas. Inicialmente, os materiais componentes foram caracterizados por diversos ensaios, tais como, difração de raios X, granulometria, infravermelho, microscopia eletrônica de varredura, temperatura de degradação térmica, além de ensaios específicos para medir características individuais da argila, como, viscosidade Fann, inchamento de Foster, limite de plasticidade, fluorescência de raios X, entre outros. Posteriormente, o polipropileno graftizado com anidrido maleico (PP-g-MA) foi incorporado ao PP puro (PP), em extrusora dupla rosca, nas proporções de 5%, 10% e 20% em peso e injetados os corpos de prova para os ensaios de tração e impacto. A partir dos resultados das propriedades mecânicas definiu-se o uso de 5% de PP-g-MA para preparação dos nanocompósitos definitivos. Finalmente, variou-se a quantidade de fibra na composição. Foram obtidos nanocompósitos de polipropileno (PP) e 5% PPg- MA reforçado com 5% em peso da argila organofilizada e fibra do ouriço da castanha-do-brasil em três proporções 5%, 10% e 15% em peso. As amostras foram caracterizadas por diferentes técnicas (DRX, MEV, FTIR, TG/DSC) e medidas as resistências mecânicas à tração, flexão e impacto. Todos os nanocompósitos apresentaram aumento na resistência mecânica quando comparados ao polímero sem argila e fibra. / The incorporation of vegetable and mineral nanofillers in polymer matrix has been studied mainly in order to improve the mechanical performance properties of polymers for various industrial applications. The organoclays and vegetable fibers are among the materials that stand out as fillers added to polymer for the formation of nanocomposites. This study has also attracted interest owing to achieve improvements in various properties when compared to other traditional composite materials. This study aims to investigate the effects of adding organophilic clay and brazilian nut fibers on the some physical, chemical and mechanical properties of polypropylene nanocomposite. Initially, The component materials were characterized by tests, such as X-ray diffraction, particle size, infrared, scanning electron microscopy, thermal degradation, as well as specific assays for measuring individual characteristics and properties of the clay, for example, viscosity Fann, Foster swelling, plasticity limit, X-ray fluorescence, among others. In the second step, the graftizado polypropylene with maleic anhydride (PP-g-MA) was incorporated into the pure PP, extruded in proportions of 5 weight%, 10 weight% and 20 weight% and injected the samples for tensile and impact tests. From the results of mechanical properties was defined using 5 weight% of PP-g-Ma for the incorporation into pure PP. Finally, samples were prepared containing only polymer, graftizado polymer/clay, graftizado polymer/clay/ fiber. The addition of clay was 5 weight% and the fiber was added to 5 weight%, 10 weight% and 15% by weight, respectively. The nanocomposites were prepared double-screw extruder and the samples injection molded, then, they were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope (SEM), thermal analysis (TG/DSC), infrared spectroscopy and mechanical strength, flexural and impact test. All the nanocomposites increased mechanical properties as compared to polymer without clay and fibers.

Composites are combinations of mainly two different components: the matrix and the filler/reinforcement. In the thermoplastic composites industry, natural fibers from agricultural crops have been emerged as alternative fillers. Crops such as wheat straw are renewable and low cost materials that, combined with thermoplastics such as polypropylene, provide engineering products with unique characteristics. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of processing conditions and composite formulation in the final properties of the composites. For these purposes wheat straw fibres and polypropylene (PP) were compounded in a batch mixer under a number of different thermal conditions and formulations. Fiber loading in the range from 0 to 60 wt-% was examined and the individual effects of two coupling agents (maleic anhydride modified polypropylene and maleic acid ethylene copolymer) and a lubricant were also studied. Particle size, morphology, thermal and mechanical properties and water uptake behaviour were inspected with appropriate techniques. Wheat straw particle size distribution was studied through image analysis; distribution curves for length and width of the particles were recorded in two stages of the project: previous and after compounding the natural material with polypropylene. Morphology of wheat straw particles and wheat straw-polypropylene composites were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Thermal properties including melting temperature and crystallization temperature of composites and pure resin were obtained from differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) performed on the samples; percentage of crystallinity was also calculated from the heat of fusion obtained from those tests. Mechanical properties, such as flexural modulus and flexural yield strength, were accessed in a miniature materials tester. Water absorption of selected composite samples was evaluated after immersion of the samples in a water bath. Water absorption curves were used to calculate the water diffusion coefficient (diffusivity) of the composites. Image analysis revealed the changes in the wheat straw structure due to shear forces during processing and improvement of adhesion between matrix and filler in compositions containing coupling agent. Small changes in the percentage of crystallinity of the thermoplastic phase were observed in all composites tested. Flexural tests revealed behaviour trends for the composites tested. Water uptake appeared to be a severe problem on natural fiber composites due to color fading, dimension instability and significant weight gains. Results from this work allowed the determination of some effects of processing temperature, fiber loading and use of additives on the final properties of wheat straw- polypropylene composites, thus making contributions to the scientific work that has been realized on natural fiber composites.

Composites are combinations of mainly two different components: the matrix and the filler/reinforcement. In the thermoplastic composites industry, natural fibers from agricultural crops have been emerged as alternative fillers. Crops such as wheat straw are renewable and low cost materials that, combined with thermoplastics such as polypropylene, provide engineering products with unique characteristics. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of processing conditions and composite formulation in the final properties of the composites. For these purposes wheat straw fibres and polypropylene (PP) were compounded in a batch mixer under a number of different thermal conditions and formulations. Fiber loading in the range from 0 to 60 wt-% was examined and the individual effects of two coupling agents (maleic anhydride modified polypropylene and maleic acid ethylene copolymer) and a lubricant were also studied. Particle size, morphology, thermal and mechanical properties and water uptake behaviour were inspected with appropriate techniques. Wheat straw particle size distribution was studied through image analysis; distribution curves for length and width of the particles were recorded in two stages of the project: previous and after compounding the natural material with polypropylene. Morphology of wheat straw particles and wheat straw-polypropylene composites were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Thermal properties including melting temperature and crystallization temperature of composites and pure resin were obtained from differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) performed on the samples; percentage of crystallinity was also calculated from the heat of fusion obtained from those tests. Mechanical properties, such as flexural modulus and flexural yield strength, were accessed in a miniature materials tester. Water absorption of selected composite samples was evaluated after immersion of the samples in a water bath. Water absorption curves were used to calculate the water diffusion coefficient (diffusivity) of the composites. Image analysis revealed the changes in the wheat straw structure due to shear forces during processing and improvement of adhesion between matrix and filler in compositions containing coupling agent. Small changes in the percentage of crystallinity of the thermoplastic phase were observed in all composites tested. Flexural tests revealed behaviour trends for the composites tested. Water uptake appeared to be a severe problem on natural fiber composites due to color fading, dimension instability and significant weight gains. Results from this work allowed the determination of some effects of processing temperature, fiber loading and use of additives on the final properties of wheat straw- polypropylene composites, thus making contributions to the scientific work that has been realized on natural fiber composites.

A incorporação de nanocargas minerais e vegetais em matriz polimérica tem sido estudada, principalmente, com o objetivo de melhorar as propriedades de desempenho mecânico dos polímeros para aplicações industriais diversas. As argilas organofilizadas e as fibras vegetais estão entre os materiais que se destacam como cargas adicionadas ao polímero para a formação de nanocompósitos. Essa área de estudo tem despertado interesse também devido à obtenção de melhorias de propriedades físicas, químicas e mecânicas desses materiais quando comparadas às dos materiais compósitos tradicionais. O objetivo da pesquisa foi estudar algumas dessas propriedades em nanocompósitos produzidos com polipropileno, argila esmectítica brasileira e fibra do ouriço da castanha-do-brasil, com ênfase na melhora das propriedades mecânicas. Inicialmente, os materiais componentes foram caracterizados por diversos ensaios, tais como, difração de raios X, granulometria, infravermelho, microscopia eletrônica de varredura, temperatura de degradação térmica, além de ensaios específicos para medir características individuais da argila, como, viscosidade Fann, inchamento de Foster, limite de plasticidade, fluorescência de raios X, entre outros. Posteriormente, o polipropileno graftizado com anidrido maleico (PP-g-MA) foi incorporado ao PP puro (PP), em extrusora dupla rosca, nas proporções de 5%, 10% e 20% em peso e injetados os corpos de prova para os ensaios de tração e impacto. A partir dos resultados das propriedades mecânicas definiu-se o uso de 5% de PP-g-MA para preparação dos nanocompósitos definitivos. Finalmente, variou-se a quantidade de fibra na composição. Foram obtidos nanocompósitos de polipropileno (PP) e 5% PPg- MA reforçado com 5% em peso da argila organofilizada e fibra do ouriço da castanha-do-brasil em três proporções 5%, 10% e 15% em peso. As amostras foram caracterizadas por diferentes técnicas (DRX, MEV, FTIR, TG/DSC) e medidas as resistências mecânicas à tração, flexão e impacto. Todos os nanocompósitos apresentaram aumento na resistência mecânica quando comparados ao polímero sem argila e fibra. / The incorporation of vegetable and mineral nanofillers in polymer matrix has been studied mainly in order to improve the mechanical performance properties of polymers for various industrial applications. The organoclays and vegetable fibers are among the materials that stand out as fillers added to polymer for the formation of nanocomposites. This study has also attracted interest owing to achieve improvements in various properties when compared to other traditional composite materials. This study aims to investigate the effects of adding organophilic clay and brazilian nut fibers on the some physical, chemical and mechanical properties of polypropylene nanocomposite. Initially, The component materials were characterized by tests, such as X-ray diffraction, particle size, infrared, scanning electron microscopy, thermal degradation, as well as specific assays for measuring individual characteristics and properties of the clay, for example, viscosity Fann, Foster swelling, plasticity limit, X-ray fluorescence, among others. In the second step, the graftizado polypropylene with maleic anhydride (PP-g-MA) was incorporated into the pure PP, extruded in proportions of 5 weight%, 10 weight% and 20 weight% and injected the samples for tensile and impact tests. From the results of mechanical properties was defined using 5 weight% of PP-g-Ma for the incorporation into pure PP. Finally, samples were prepared containing only polymer, graftizado polymer/clay, graftizado polymer/clay/ fiber. The addition of clay was 5 weight% and the fiber was added to 5 weight%, 10 weight% and 15% by weight, respectively. The nanocomposites were prepared double-screw extruder and the samples injection molded, then, they were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope (SEM), thermal analysis (TG/DSC), infrared spectroscopy and mechanical strength, flexural and impact test. All the nanocomposites increased mechanical properties as compared to polymer without clay and fibers.

Orientador: Marco-Aurelio De Paoli / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Quimica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-07T03:09:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Santos_PauloAparecidodos_M.pdf: 1844642 bytes, checksum: 28867d508759886e272ceb5e054c9b1e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006 / Resumo: O emprego de fibras vegetais para o reforço de resinas plásticas não é novo; contudo, houve preferência pelas fibras de vidro e cargas minerais como materiais de reforço com alto desempenho, devido às fibras vegetais possuírem grande volume ( baixa densidade aparente ), pouca estabilidade térmica e alta absorção de umidade. Na última década, porém, o interesse pelas fibras vegetais aumentou novamente, devido às seguintes vantagens: são provenientes de fontes renováveis; são bio-degradáveis; são recicláveis; representam uma nova fonte de renda para população rural e trazem economia de energia por meio da redução de peso dos componentes. Este trabalho avaliou a utilização da fibra de Curauá, em compósitos com poliamida-6, visando a substituição da fibra de vidro em aplicações automotivas. Inicialmente, foram preparadas amostras em misturador interno empregando-se um planejamento fatorial 4 x 2 com as variáveis: teor de fibra de 0, 20, 30 ou 40 wt % e comprimento de fibra de 0,1 ou 10 mm. As amostras com fibra de Curauá curta e com menor teor de fibra apresentaram melhor balanço de valores de tensão e módulo elástico nos testes de tração realizados. Em seguida, foram obtidas amostras com 20 wt % de fibra curta com tratamento superficial por plasma de N2 ou O2, ou lavadas com solução de NaOH por 30 min ou por 2 h, com o objetivo de aumentar a adesão entre a fibra e a matriz de poliamida-6. Posteriormente, foi realizado o processamento em duas diferentes extrusoras dupla-rosca inter-penetrante co-rotante, das amostras com 20 wt % de fibra de Curauá curta ou longa; com ou sem tratamento. Também foi estudado o efeito da ausência de secagem dos componentes antes da extrusão. Em corpos de prova injetados com essas amostras foram feitos ensaios de tração, flexão, impacto, temperatura de deflexão térmica, absorção de umidade, contração de moldagem, densidade e envelhecimento em estufa. Concluiu-se que: é possível preparar um compósito de poliamida-6 com 20 wt % de fibra de Curauá, desde que seja usado o equipamento adequado; a não secagem dos componentes antes da extrusão não afeta as propriedades mecânicas do compósito e até favorece a adesão fibra/matriz; o tratamento superficial das fibras com solução de NaOH é mais efetivo que por plasma de N2. As propriedades de tração e flexão deste compósito são melhores que as da poliamida-6 pura; porém, inferiores às da reforçada com fibra de vidro. Entretanto, sua menor densidade e sua resistência ao impacto e deflexão térmica comparáveis às da poliamida-6 reforçada com fibra de vidro, podem viabilizar a substituição desta em aplicações específicas / Abstract: The utilization of vegetal fibers as reinforcement for plastic resins is not new; nevertheless, there was a preference to use glass fiber and mineral fillers as high performance reinforcements, due to large volume ( low apparent density ), poor thermal stability and high moisture absorption of vegetal fibers. However, over the last decade, the interest for such material has increased again, because of recognized advantages such as: they come from renewable raw material sources; they are biodegradable; recyclable; they bring new jobs for the rural population and enable energy economy through the components weight reduction. This work has evaluated the utilization of Curauá fibers in polyamide-6 composites, aiming at glass fiber replacement in automotive applications. Initially, samples have been prepared in a internal mixer applying a 4 x 2 design of experiment plan with the following variables: fiber content of 0, 20, 30 or 40 wt % and fiber length of 0.1 or 10 mm. Samples with smaller content and shorter Curauá fiber have shown best balance among tensile strength and elastic modulus tests. Then, samples with 20 wt % of short fibers have been treated with N2 or O2 plasma, or washed with NaOH solution for 30 min or 2 h, focusing on enhancing adhesion between the fiber and polyamide-6 matrix. After that, samples with 20 wt % of short or long fiber, with or without pre-treatment have been compounded in two different co-rotating inter-meshing twin-screw extruders. The effect of not drying raw materials before compounding was also evaluated. Subsequently, test specimens have been injection molded with those samples and submitted to tensile, flexural, impact, heat deflection temperature, moisture absorption, mold shrinkage, density and thermal aging tests. In conclusion, it is possible to prepare polyamide-6 with 20 wt % of Curauá composite, when an appropriate compounding equipment is used. Raw materials without drying before compounding have not affected composite¿s mechanical properties and indeed have improved fiber / matrix interfacial adhesion. Surface treatment with NaOH proved to be more effective than N2 plasma. Tensile and flexural properties of this composite are better than unfilled polyamide-6; but lower than glass fiber reinforced polyamide-6. However, its impact resistance and heat deflection temperature similar to the glass fiber reinforced polyamide-6 and its lower density, can enable it to replace this latter in specific non-critical applications / Mestrado / Quimica Inorganica / Mestre em Química

Bio-based flax fiber polymer composites (FFPC) have the potential to replace metals and synthetic fibers in certain applications due to their unique mechanical properties. However, the long term reliability of FFPC needs to be better understood. In this study, the fatigue limit was evaluated using mathematical, thermographic, and energy-based approaches. Each approach determined fatigue limits around 45% load of ultimate tensile strength at a loading frequency of 5 Hz. Thermographic and energy-based approaches were also implemented at different loading frequencies (5, 7, 10, and 15 Hz) to define the effect of loading frequency on the fatigue life. Fatigue limit was found to decrease slowly with increasing loading frequency. Moreover, two forms of damage energy (thermal and micro-mechanical) during cyclic loading was separated using an experimental approach to pinpoint the main responsible damage energy for decreasing fatigue limit with increasing loading frequency.

Le béton est le matériau de construction le plus utilisé dans le monde. Des fibres sont introduites pour le renforcement du béton de structure. Jusqu'à présent, les fibres utilisées sont généralement des fibres métalliques ou synthétiques (par exemple les fibres de polypropylène).Dans notre étude, nous nous sommes intéressés au remplacement des fibres synthétique (le polypropylène dans notre cas), par des fibres végétales naturelles à s'avoir l'alfa, une graminée méditerranéenne.Nous avons formulé et confectionné des éprouvettes de différents types de bétons renforcés aux fibres d'alfa ainsi que deux bétons témoins, le premier ordinaire et le second renforcé de fibres de polypropylène.La caractérisation a montré que les dosages en fibres d'alfa les plus performants sont ceux de 1% et 1,5% de fibres d'alfa, qui ont donnés des résistances mécaniques comparables à celles des bétons ordinaires et des bétons renforcés au polypropylène.Les tests de durabilité (attaque sulfatique externe et élévation de température) ont montré que le béton renforcé à 1% de fibre d'alfa est celui dont les résultats se rapprochent de ceux des bétons ordinaires. Le béton à 1% de fibres d'alfa constitue donc le béton optimal.L'analyse environnementale a montré que les fibres d'alfa sont beaucoup moins impactantes sur l'environnement que celles de polypropylènes quant-à l’épuisement des énergies fossiles, le changement climatique (lié à l’émission de gaz à effet de serre, parmi lesquels le CO2), l’émission atmosphérique de particules, l’écotoxicité marine et l’oxydation photochimique. / Concrete is the most used building material in the world. In order to reinforce struture concretes, different kinds of fibres are added among which metallic and synthetic (e.g. polypropylene) fibres.In our study, we have replaced polypropylene fibres by natural vegetal fibres of alfa, a grass commonly found aroud the Mediterranean.We have prepared 3 kinds of concrete : alfa-reinforced concrete (with various amounts of alfa fibres), polypropylene-reinforced concrete and ordinary concrete used as references.Characterization showed that the best amounts of alfa fibres are 1 and 1.5 %, that gave a mechanical behaviour close to that of ordinary and polypropylene-concrete.Durability tests (sulfatic attack and high temperature) showed that the concrete reinforced with 1% of alfa fibres gives the closest results compared to ordinary concrete. Concrete with 1% of alfa fibres is hence the best concrete.Environmental analyses showed that alfa fibres generate far less impacts than polypropylene fibres as regards fossil fuel depletion, climate change (linked with emissions of greenhouse gases among which CO2), atmospheric emission of particles, marine ecotoxicity and photochemical oxydation.

Das lógicas vigentes de produção e consumo mais recorrentes no sistema da moda, emergem problemáticas ambientais e sociais de escala mundial. Ao longo da sua evolução, a produção têxtil, uma das atividades humanas mais antigas e elementares, tornou-se uma importante responsável pelo consumo em grande escala e uso indevido de recursos naturais e, associada aos valores de consumo da sociedade urbano-industrial, a sazonalidade da moda é mais um agravante. Fruto de uma visão de mundo fragmentada, intrínseca ao paradigma moderno, o design têxtil e de moda, assim como outras áreas do conhecimento, se desenvolveram orientados a sustentar um padrão de desenvolvimento econômico e tecnológico compatíveis com estas lógicas, de forma que no Brasil, importantes saberes sobre processos tecnológicos e o uso de matérias-primas inerentes a nossa cultura popular foram levados a um processo de desuso e esquecimento. Saberes estes intimamente associados à biodiversidade e tidos como de extrema importância dentro das políticas nacionais e internacionais de desenvolvimento ambiental e social. Neste contexto, este trabalho se desenvolveu com o objetivo de propor uma coleção de fios, produzidos a partir de fibras de paina, da espécie nativa Chorisia speciosa, e de técnicas têxteis artesanais, associando à criação as pesquisas teórica e experimental. O método que delineamos para o desenvolvimento da coleção de fios abrange: i) pesquisa teórico-conceitual, em que foram levantados os principais conhecimentos sobre as matérias primas e técnicas no âmbito da cultura têxtil popular brasileira e as principais tendências de moda e consumo no Brasil e no mundo; ii) pesquisa técnico-experimental, fase da pesquisa em que foi testada a viabilidade técnica de transformar as fibras de paina e diferentes misturas destas com fibras de algodão e lã em um fio, bem como o seu tingimento, utilizando as técnicas artesanais pesquisadas na etapa anterior; iii) desenvolvimento da coleção de fios propriamente dita. A partir dos dados obtidos na pesquisa, foi identificado que o vasto conhecimento popular a cerca das técnicas têxteis demonstra imenso potencial ao incorporá-lo no processo criativo têxtil. Além disso, a pesquisa técnico-experimental apontou a viabilidade de fiação da paina com misturas de algodão e lã, bem como o seu tingimento natural. Por meio deste trabalho foi possível então ratificar a importância e potencial de aliar a pesquisa científica à criação de moda tanto para o desenvolvimento de um novo material, como na proposição de formas distintas de produção e consumo de moda. As tendências de moda pesquisadas demonstraram que uma parcela da sociedade vive na atualidade uma intensa e acelerada redefinição de conceitos, valores e estilo de vida que contrariam a configuração do mercado de moda e a lógica de consumo predominante inerente a este, e se projetam gradativamente em transformações nos comportamentos de consumo e consequentemente no mercado e economia. Assim, elas apenas reafirmam a valia da presente pesquisa para o mercado de moda e a propensão deste à aceitação de produtos como o que propusemos aqui. / Social and environmental issues have emerged in global scale from the prevailing logics of production and consumption recurrent in the fashion system. The textile production, one of the oldest elementary human activities, has become a major factor in large scale consumption and in the misuse of natural resources throughout its evolution. Another aggravating factor is the urban-industrial society consumption values and the seasonality of fashion. As a result of a fragmented worldview, intrinsic to the modern paradigm, the textile and fashion design as well as other areas of knowledge - have been developed towards the sustainability of economic and technological development patterns compatible to these logics. In Brazil, important knowledge about technological processes and the use of raw materials, inherent in our popular culture, feel in disuse and oblivion. This knowledge is closely associated with biodiversity and taken with paramount importance for national and international environmental and social development policies. In this context, this work was developed aiming to propose a yarn collection produced with kapok fibers - from the native specie Chorisia speciosa - and textile craft techniques, linking creation to theoretical and experimental research. The outlined method for the development of the yarn collection includes: i) theoretical and conceptual research, in which we analyzed the main knowledge on raw materials and techniques in Brazilian popular textile culture and main fashion and consumption trends in Brazil and the world, ii) technical and experimental research, the phase in which we tested the technical feasibility of kapok fibers transformation and different mixtures of these fibers with cotton and wool on a yarn, as well as its dyeing, using the handmade techniques surveyed in the previous step, iii) development of yarn collection. From the data obtained in the research, we identified that the vast popular knowledge on technical textiles have immense potential to be incorporated in creative textile process. In addition, technical experimental research demonstrated the feasibility of kapok spinning with mixtures of cotton and wool, as well as its natural dyeing. Throughout the work, it was possible to confirm the potential importance of linking scientific research to fashion creation for both the development of new material and for proposing different forms of fashion production and consumption. Fashion trend research showed that part of the society is experiencing an intense and accelerated redefinition of concepts, values and lifestyle that contradicts the fashion market configuration and its consumer logic. Results of this process have gradually been projected as changes in consumer behavior, and consequently, in the market and the economy. Therefore, they reaffirm this research value for the fashion market and its propensity to accept the proposed products.

No mundo atual é possível observar uma produção crescente de resíduos sem uma destinação adequada, tendo como destino principal o descarte em aterros sanitários. Esse agravante é maior quando se refere aos polímeros, que são baratos, disponíveis em grande quantidade e com pouco valor agregado após o uso. O estudo proposto em parceria com a cooperativa de catadores de materiais recicláveis da cidade de Lorena teve como foco principal a reciclagem de rejeitos de polietileno de baixa densidade no sentido de obter um produto com valor comercial, a madeira plástica, visando contribuir no desenvolvimento técnico da reciclagem destes rejeitos, bem como nos aspectos sociais e ambientais relacionados. Foram produzidos compósitos de polietileno de baixa densidade com fibra natural de coco verde com o agente de reforço com porcentagem de 5 a 30% m/m. Para melhorar a adesão interfacial entre a fibra e polímero foi utilizado o compatibilizante polietileno graftizado com anidrido maléico a 2,5%. Os resultados mostraram que é possível obter êxito na reciclagem dos rejeitos de filmes de PEBD na forma de madeira plástica, sendo que o compósito de rejeito branco com 15% em massa de fibra de coco e o compósito de rejeito transparente com 30% de fibra de coco foram os materiais que apresentaram o melhor desempenho de propriedades mecânicas em termos de resistência ao impacto e à tração, obtendo valores superiores aos de madeiras comerciais. Portanto, a produção de madeira plástica a partir dos rejeitos de polietileno é uma maneira de aumentar a fonte de renda dos cooperados e promover ganhos ambientais com a redução do descarte de rejeitos plásticos poluentes no meio ambiente. / In today\'s world has being observed an increasing production of waste without adequate location, whose main destination is in landfills. This is a more serious aggravating when it refers on the polymers, that are inexpensive, available in large quantities and with little value after use. The present work, in partnership with pickers cooperatives of recyclable materials from the Lorena city, had mainly focused on recycling of low-density polyethylene waste in order to obtain a product with commercial value: a wood-plastic composite, to contribute to technical development recycling of waste as well as the social and environmental aspects. The composites were produced from low-density polyethylene with natural coconut fiber as a reinforcing agent at 5 to 30 wt%. For interfacial adhesion between the fiber and polymer was used a compatibilizer agent maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene (PE-g-MA) at 2.5 wt%. The results showed that it is possible to succeed in recycling LDPE film waste in the form of wood-plastic. The LDPE/coconut fiber composites from white polymeric waste containing 15wt% of fiber and LDPE/coconut fiber composites from transparent polymeric waste containing 30wt% were the materials with the highest mechanical performance related to impact resistance and tensile strength, reaching values higher than commercial woods. Therefore, the production of plastic wood from polyethylene waste is an alternative for improve the source of income of the cooperative and promote environmental gains by reducing the disposal of the polluting plastic waste in the environment.

Este trabalho tem como finalidade o desenvolvimento de compósitos a base de resina de poliéster insaturado reforçados com fibras naturais visando aplicações na indústria automotiva. Foram obtidas amostras em escala semi-industrial de compósitos reforçados com fibra de curauá, sisal e vidro, com teores variando de 15 a 40% em massa, com e sem a adição de carga mineral na matriz polimérica, através do processo de prensagem a frio. Os efeitos de cada um dos fatores foram analisados sobre a resistência à tração, módulo de elasticidade, alongamento na ruptura, resistência à flexão e ao impacto. Além disso, foi determinado o comportamento dos materiais com diferentes composições com relação à absorção de umidade. A variação da resistência à flexão como função do tempo de imersão e do teor de umidade absorvido pelos diferentes materiais foi determinada. Foram analisadas as propriedades superficiais como brilho, neblina (haze), ondulância (long-waviness) para as amostras produzidas e submetidas a ensaios de envelhecimento térmico, câmara de condensação e envelhecimento artificial. Todos os resultados obtidos foram baseados em normas da indústria automobilística para verificar conformidade com as exigências do setor. / The purpose of this work is to develop unsaturated polyester based composites reinforced with natural fibers of automotive applications. Samples have been obtained in a semi-industrial scale of composites reinforced with curauá, sisal and glass fiber, with contents varying from 15 to 40% in weight, with and without mineral filler incorporation to the polyester matrix. The molding technique employed was compression molding. The effects of these variables have been investigated over the tensile strenght, young\'s modulus, strain at rupture, flexural and impact strenght of the materials. The behavior of each sample has been investigated concerning water absorption. The variation of flexural strenght as a function of water absorption and immersion time has been determined for each formulation studied. Surface properties such as gloss, haze, long and short-waviness have been determined for all samples obtained just after painting and after artificial weathering, thermal aging and water absorption tests. All results have been performed based on automotive standards in order to evaluate the conformance of the materials to the requirements of the industry.