Desenvolvimento e caracterização de bionanocompósitos pelo método de extrusão

Abstract

Aiming at the development of biodegradable packaging materials, starch/chitosan blends structured with montmorillonite nanoparticles (MMT) or bamboo nanofibers (NFBs) at concentrations of (0.0,0.5 and 1.0) g NPs/100 g of polymer were obtained by the casting and extrusion techniques. The obtained bio-nanocomposites were characterized, as well as, how the dispersion of nanoparticles influenced the main physicochemical properties of the films. For the films from starch/chitosan blends produced by the casting method, the proportions of (5/0, 3.75/0.25, 2.5/2.5, 1.25/0.75 and 0/1) g/100 g based on polymer, were tested and the introducing of the reinforcers into filmogenic solution were evaluated. Satisfactory dispersion and exfoliation of MMT in bio-nanocomposites were confirmed by changes of crystallinity due to displacement of the characteristic peak from 7.2 ° to 5.2 °. In the same way, films structured with NFBs showed variations of the vibrational frequencies of the molecular arrangements indicating strong bonds between the polymer blends and the reinforcers. By the extrusion from the mixture of homo pellets and masterbatch pellets, from starch/chitosan blends at proportions of (100/0, 75/25 and 50/50) g/100 g, the obtained films have exhibited changes of the crystallinity and the molecular interactions. In relation to mechanical properties, the films presented increase of the tension response as well as the elongation and modulus of elasticity in relation to the reinforcer concentration in each evaluated blend. On the other hand, the formation of polymer blends and the interactions of reinforcers with the matrix changed significantly the three-dimensional network and consequently the water vapor transmission (WVT). Films produced from starch/chitosan 100/0, nanostructured with (0.5 and 1.0) g MMT/100 g, exhibited lower values of WVT 155 e 139) gm-2 d-1 , respectively, when compared to commercial products such as Bionolle ™ (PBS) 330 g m-2 d-1) and (PBAT) Ecoflex® (272 g m-2 d-1). In this work, it was possible to develop a promising material with desired characteristics in the biodegradable packaging sector with wide application in the industry.