Development and characterization of a polymeric composite from the endocarp of murumuru (Astrocaryum murumuru Mart.) and recycled polyolefins

ABSTRACT

The intense industrial activity in the Amazon region generates a large amount of waste, including non-wood lignocellulosic waste. The present study evaluated the use of murumuru tegument (Astrocaryum murumuru Mart.) in the production of a plastic wood composite, in which a 70/30 proportion of polypropylene and murumuru tegument and 2% maleic anhydride were used. The wood-plastic composites were compression molded in a thermo-hydraulic press. The murumuru tegument was characterized as to its lignin and cellulose content and as to its morphology through Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The composites were evaluated for their morphology through SEM and for their mechanical properties through the flexural strength test, where the pure PP plates showed a mechanical performance 21.7% higher than the composite with 30% residue, for Significance values (P < 0.05) there was no static difference between the plates. The infrared spectrometry patterns indicated that the composition of the vegetal filler is characterized by constituents such as lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose. The results obtained indicated good performance of plastic wood, thus, the objective of this work was achieved.

Keywords
Production Chain; Composites; Commercialization of Recyclables; Circular Economy