Estudio del efecto de la incorporación de partículas provenientes de los residuos de tagua (Phytelephas aequatorialis macrocarpa) a una matriz de poliestireno

Abstract

Residues from the manufacture of tagua buttons were used to incorporate them into a polystyrene matrix; particle size and concentration of tagua powder were considered as study variables. Tagua was chemically characterized, and results revealed 50,68 % cellulose and 34,48 % hemicellulose, besides lignin, moisture and minor components. Infrared spectroscopy FT-IR identified functional groups of tagua and TGA thermogravimetric analysis determined thermal stability of the raw materials. The glass transition temperature of polystyrene was determined by differential scanning calorimetry DSC. Maximum amount of tagua powder incorporated into matrix by extrusion was 15% because at higher concentration fracture of melt is produced. Statistical analysis of results of mechanical tensile and flexural tests of injected specimens determined that main factor affecting mechanical properties was the particle size of the tagua poder