Resumo: Fibras de sisal com quatro tratamentos, a saber: fibra lavada com água, lavada com cicloexano/etanol, tratamento alcalino (NaOH) e tratamento com peróxido alcalino (branqueamento), foram incorporadas na blenda amido termoplástico/policaprolactona 80/20 (TPS/PCL). As propriedades morfológicas, mecânicas e térmicas dos biocompósitos TPS/PCL/Sisal foram analisadas. Os compósitos com a fibra branqueada apresentaram os melhores resultados de resistência à tração e estabilidade térmica. Verificou-se também melhora da adesão fibra-matriz no compósito com a fibra branqueada, com aumento de 145% na resistência à tração. Palavras-chave: Sisal, tratamento superficial, compósitos.
Effect of Fiber Treatments on Properties of Thermoplastic Starch/Polycaprolactone/Sisal BiocompositesAbstract: Sisal fibers treated with four methods, namely washing with water, washing with cyclohexane/ethanol, alkali treatment (NaOH) and bleaching (alkaline peroxide treatment), were incorporated in thermoplastic starch/polycaprolactone 80/20 (TPS/PCL) samples. Morphological, mechanical and thermal properties of TPS/PCL/Sisal biocomposites were analysed. The best results were obtained with the composite using the bleached fiber, which had improved tensile strength and thermal stability. An increased adhesion between the fiber and matrix was also observed with the bleached fiber, with 145% increase in the tensile strength