Avaliação e caracterização de membranas de PLA/ARGILA

Abstract

The advancement of the industry has driven the extensive use of polymers in various applications, due to their specificities and economic advantages. These polymeric materials have a wide range of mechanical and thermal properties, in addition to being lighter and easier to process compared to traditional materials. This work's main objective is to evaluate and obtain membranes using poly (lactic acid) as a polymeric matrix with the addition of 3% and 5% of Cloisite 20A clay fillers, improving permeation properties. The research seeks to investigate the predicted incorporation of clay into PLA and evaluate the impact of this addition on the characteristics and performance of the resulting membranes. Furthermore, to evaluate the influence of filler addition on the polymeric structure and barrier properties of membranes and bionanocomposites, X-ray diffraction (XRD), contact angle, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), water vapor permeation test and apparent porosity test. The XRD diffractograms showed the intercalation of the clay in the polymer matrix that resulted in a semi-crystalline structure, in other words, the crystalline peaks typical of both the polymer and the clay were observed. From the results of the contact angle test, it can be seen that the addition of clay to the polymer matrix caused a change in the surface energy of the bionanocomposites. Analysis of the scanning electron microscopy test showed a dense morphological structure without the formation of visible pores. Based on the results obtained from the water vapor permeation test, it is possible to state that the addition of clay fillers to the polymer matrix resulted in a decrease in the permeability of the membrane, preventing a good interaction between the clay and the polymer. The characterization by the porosity test seemed to show that the bionanocomposite with 5% filler ratified the best results in two time intervals (30 and 45 minutes), meaning an interspersed formation of clay with the polymer. In this way, it was possible to obtain a bionanocomposite with outstanding characteristics and results in permeation properties for application in gas separation and as a filtering material.