Obtenção, caracterização e viabilidade de aplicação de um compósito com matriz de resina poliéster e carga de fibras do caroço do açaí

Abstract

New materials are being developed by adding relevant characteristics and properties, examples being the composite materials that cover different fields of engineering. This research presents the processes of obtaining and manufacturing a composite matrix of terephthalic polyester resin and loading of residues of açaí kernel fibers. Preliminary tests demonstrated the feasibility of obtaining the composite for a maximum load of 15%. The mass proportions of residues, relative to the polyester resin matrix, corresponding to 5, 10 and 15% were thus chosen. Two configurations were chosen for the composite: with treated and untreated fibers. The treatment of the fibers was carried out in order to remove impurities in hot water, for a period of thirty minutes. With the selected formulations, test specimens were produced, according to the pertinent norms, and determined the properties that characterized the composites, traction, flexion, impact, density, water absorption, aging mass loss, thermogravimetric (TG) and Electron Microscopy Scanning MEV. For all formulations the fiber residues presented satisfactory results when applied to panels for the fabrication of parts and structures, since they presented mechanical properties as described in the standard NBR 15316-3.