title: Physical, chemical and mechanical properties of pehuen cellulosic husk and its pehuen-starch based composites.
abstract: Pehuen cellulosic husk was characterized and employed as reinforcement for composite materials. In this research, thermoplastic pehuen starch (TPS) and TPS/poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) composites, reinforced with 5 and 10% of pehuen husk, were prepared by melt-blending. Comparative samples of pehuen TPS and TPS/PLA/PVA blend were also studied. Physical, thermal, structural and mechanical properties of composites were evaluated. Pehuen husk mainly consists of cellulose (50 wt%), hemicellulose (30 wt%) and lignin (14 wt%). In respect to lipids, this husk has only a 0.6 wt%. Its surface is smooth and damage-free and it is decomposed above 325 °C. The incorporation of pehuen husk improved considerably the thermal stability and mechanical properties of the studied composites, mainly in TPS composites. Their thermal stability enhances since biofiber hinders the "out-diffusion" of volatile molecules from the polymer matrix, while mechanical properties could raise due to the natural affinity between husk and starch in the pehuen seed.
authors.affiliation: Materials Engineering Department, Universidad de Concepción, Edmundo Larenas 270, Concepción, Chile.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Castaño
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Llamazares
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carrasco
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bouza
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry*; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol / Q000737:chemistry*; D013213:Starch / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature; D013718:Tensile Strength; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D019344:Lactic Acid; C033616:poly(lactide); D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol; D002482:Cellulose; D013213:Starch