Acacia bark residues as filler in polypropylene composites

• Main Authors: Ticiane Taflick, Élida Gonçalves Maich, Laís Dias Ferreira, Clara Isméria Damiani Bica, Silvia Rosane Santos Rodrigues, Sônia Marlí Bohrz Nachtigall
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Associação Brasileira de Polímeros 2015-06-01
• Series: Polímeros
• Subjects: composites; natural fibers; impact properties; tensile properties; thermal degradation
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0104-14282015000300008&lng=en&tlng=en

<title>Abstract</title><p>Large amounts of acacia bark residues are produced each day after tannin extraction with hot water, being generally burned. This by-product was chemically characterized and used as filler in polypropylene (PP) composites, considering different particle sizes and concentrations. The materials produced by melt blending had their mechanical and thermal properties evaluated. It was verified that, even containing a significant amount of extractable compounds, the acacia bark particles can produce PP composites with higher impact properties, higher crystallization temperature and higher degradation temperature in comparison to the polymer matrix.</p>