Oat Fiber as Reinforcement for Starch/Polyvinyl Alcohol Materials Produced by Injection Molding.

Zanela, Juliano; Bilck, Ana P.; Casagrande, Maira; Grossmann, Maria V. E.; Yamashita, Fabio

The use of low‐cost natural fibers is an interesting alternative to both improve the mechanical properties and reduce the cost of biodegradable materials. Oat fibers are studied as reinforcer or filler in starch/PVA biodegradable materials produced by an injection molding process, using native and cationic cassava starches. The formulations contain 45 wt% of starch + fiber, 25 wt% of PVA, and 30 wt% of glycerol, and the oat fiber proportions are 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10.0 wt%. All materials have good processability, and the tensile strength, Young's modulus, and elongation at break range from 4.7 to 5.5 MPa, 7.1–12.4 MPa, and 180–260%, respectively. The type of starch (native or cationic) does not influence the biodegradable material properties. The oat fiber presents a good dispersion and compatibility with the polymeric matrix, acting mainly as a filler, reducing the material costs.

POLYVINYL alcohol; OATS; FIBERS; STARCH; INJECTION molding; BIODEGRADABLE materials

Starch / Staerke, 2018, Vol 70, Issue 7/8, p1

0038-9056

Academic Journal

10.1002/star.201700248