Thermoplastic starch-cellulosic fibers composites: preliminary results

In this work we use cellulosic fibers from Eucalyptus urograndis pulp as re inforcement for thermoplastic starch in order to improve its mechanical pro perties. The composites were prepared with regular cornstarch plasticized w ith glycerin and reinforced with short cellulosic fibers (16% w/w) from ble ached pulp. The fibers were added to the thermoplasticized starch directly in an intensive batch mixer at 170 degreesC. The mixture was hot pressed in 2-3 mm-thick plates and then cut to prepare the specimens for mechanical t ests. The composite was analyzed by thermal analysis (DSC and TGA) and wate r absorption experiments. The composite shows an increase of 100% in tensil e strength and more than 50% in modulus with respect to non-reinforced ther moplastic starch. Scanning electron microscopy of fractured surfaces reveal ed a very good adhesion between the fibers and the matrix. The results obta ined show clearly the advantages in the use of thermoplastic starch reinfor ced with cellulosic fibers, a natural, cheap and abundant material. (C) 200 1 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.