ABSTRACT

Natural fibers (NFs) has been an interesting source for reinforcement in polymer composites due to their high availability, low production cost, and satisfactory performance for requirements of the composites, mainly related to the mechanical properties. NFs show remarkable importance for polyolefin recycling since it can improve materials properties that are depreciated due to the contamination or degradation of the polymeric waste. Moreover, polyolefins such as low-density polyethylene (LDPE) are processed at relatively low temperature that allows the incorporation of the NFs in the polymeric matrix by thermomechanical processing, generating products such as wood- plastic composites (WPCs). In present study, the aim was to produce fibers from Pennisetum purpureum for incorporation in LDPE waste, generating WPCs. P. purpureum was easily processed by operations of milling and sieving, producing considerable reinforcement in composites of LDPE. WPCs from P. purpureum and LDPE have presented satisfactory thermal, mechanical, and flow properties. Thus, it shows high potential for LDPE waste recycling.

摘要

天然纤维 (NFs) 因其高可用性、低生产成本和对复合材料要求的令人满意的性能（主要与机械性能相关）而成为聚合物复合材料中增强材料的重要来源。NFs 对聚烯烃的回收具有显着的重要性，因为它可以改善由于聚合物废物的污染或降解而贬值的材料性能。此外，低密度聚乙烯 (LDPE) 等聚烯烃在相对较低的温度下加工，允许通过热机械加工将 NF 掺入聚合物基体中，从而生成木塑复合材料 (WPC) 等产品。在目前的研究中，目的是从狼尾草中生产纤维用于掺入 LDPE 废物中，生成 WPC。P. purpureum很容易通过研磨和筛分操作进行加工，在 LDPE 复合材料中产生相当大的增强作用。来自P. purpureum和 LDPE 的WPC具有令人满意的热、机械和流动性能。因此，它显示出 LDPE 废物回收利用的巨大潜力。