Abstract Blends of Polystyrene (PS) and Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) were twin screw extruded, two PSs, with low and high melt flow rate (MFR) were used and their feasibility within PCL investigated by means of torque rheometry, mechanical tests, heat deflection temperature (HDT) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM); predictive models were utilized to evaluate interfacial adhesion in PS/PCL blends. Results show that no decreasing was verified in torque rheometry plots suggesting thermally stable blends; elastic modulus decreased and elongation at break increased in PS/PCL blends compared to neat PS. PS/PCL blends with low MFR PS and higher PCL amount are more thermodynamically stable. Higher HDT was verified in PS/PCL blends. The trends observed applying predictive models are indicative of poor adhesion between PCL and PS, agreeing with coalescence and phase segregation as verified in SEM images. PS/PCL systems with higher MFR PS presented the best results.

RESUMO O reaproveitamento de resíduos de borracha é de extrema importância atualmente, tanto para minimizar os efeitos nocivos no meio ambiente, quanto para reduzir o custo no desenvolvimento de novos materiais. Considerando que a maioria dos trabalhos relatados na literatura se refere ao reaproveitamento dos resíduos de pneus, o presente trabalho tem como objetivo avaliar a influência dos compatibilizantes SBS e SEBS-MA no desempenho da mistura de PS/resíduo de borracha da indústria de calçado (SBR), utilizando 5% em peso destes compatibilizantes. As misturas inicialmente foram preparadas em uma extrusora de rosca dupla corrotacional e, posteriormente, os grânulos extrudados moldados por injeção. Estas foram analisadas por ensaios de impacto, flexão, temperatura de deflexão térmica (HDT), termogravimetria (TG) e microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV). Os resultados evidenciaram que a utilização de qualquer um dos compatibilizantes na mistura PS/SBR aumentou expressivamente a resistência ao impacto, enquanto que as propriedades de flexão e HDT foram inferiores em relação à matriz polimérica. Em geral, ficou comprovado que o SBS é mais eficaz no processo de compatibilização do sistema PS/SBR, aumentando em 320% a resistência ao impacto em relação ao PS, bem como tendo uma perda de apenas 10,9% da HDT. Os resultados de termogravimetria ilustraram que a mistura PS/resíduo apresentou uma maior estabilidade térmica, em relação ao PS puro, para temperatura superior a 376ºC. As morfologias apresentadas pelas misturas ternária e binária foram bastante diferentes e típicas de misturas imiscíveis. Estes resultados mostram uma boa perspectiva de uso destes rejeitos industriais (SBR), uma vez que se pode valorizar um material que seria descartado. Além disso, tem a possibilidade de desenvolver um novo material com boas propriedades, bem como minimizar o efeito negativo desses rejeitos nos ecossistemas.

ABSTRACT The reuse of rubber residue is extremely important nowadays, both to minimize the bad effects to the environment and to reduce the costs of new materials development. Seeing that, most of the reported papers in literature refer to the reuse of tire rubber, this work aims to evaluate the influence of SBS and SEBS-MA compatibilizers on the performance of PS/rubber residue (SBR) mixture from shoes industry, using 5% wt. of these compatibilizers. The mixtures were initially prepared in a co-rotational twin screw extruder and the extruded pellets were later molded by injection. The samples were analyzed by impact, flexural, heat deflection temperature (HDT), thermogravimetry (TG) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) experiments. The results evidenced that the use of any compatibilizers in the PS/SBR mixtures significantly increased the impact strength whereas the tensions and HDT properties were lower in relation to polymer matrix. It was proved that the SBS is more efficient in the compatibilizing process of PS/SBR system, increasing 320 % the impact strength compared to PS, as well as having a 10.9 % lost only in the HDT. The results of TG illustrated that the PS/residue mixture presented a higher thermal stability in relation to the pure PS, for temperature over 376ºC. The morphologies presented from ternary and binary mixtures were clearly different and typical of immiscible blends. The results showed a good perspective of this industries wastes (SBR) use, once it was possible to value a material that would be discharged. Besides, there is the possibility to develop a new material with good properties, as well as minimize the negative effect of these wastes in the environment.

Abstract Polymer/clay nanocomposites are a new class of composites with polymer matrices where the disperse phase is a silicate with elementary particles that have at least one of dimensions in nanometer order. Polyamide 6/Brazilian organoclay nanocomposites were prepared by melt intercalation, and the mechanical, thermal and thermomechanical properties were studied. The structure and morphology of the nanocomposites were evaluated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It was verified by XRD and TEM analysis that all systems presented exfoliated structure predominantly. By thermogravimetry (TG), nanocomposites showed higher stabilities in relation to pure polymer. It was observed that the nanocomposites showed better mechanical properties compared to the properties of polyamide 6. The heat deflection temperature (HDT) values of the nanocomposites showed a significant increase in relation to pure polymer.

Misturas de polímeros constituem alternativa para a obtenção de materiais com propriedades que, em geral, não são encontradas em um único material. O objetivo deste trabalho foi produzir misturas poliméricas a partir de uma matriz de poliestireno (PS) com composto de borracha reciclada (SBR) visando à obtenção de propriedades superiores ao PS. As misturas de poliestireno/composto de borracha reciclada foram preparadas em uma extrusora de rosca dupla corrotacional, com adição de agente compatibilizante e, posteriormente, os grânulos extrusados foram moldados por injeção. Estas foram caracterizadas por ensaio mecânico de tração, análise térmica-dinâmico-mecânica (DMTA), temperatura de deflexão térmica (HDT) e microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV). Observou-se que não houve perdas significativas da HDT e da resistência à tração. O ensaio de DMTA evidencia a presença de dois picos de transição distintos, um referente a Tg do PS e o outro referente a Tg do polibutadieno (PB). A morfologia ilustrou uma redução da quantidade de vazios e do tamanho das partículas quando a mistura foi compatibilizada com 5% de SBS. As misturas de PS/SBR são uma alternativa para o reaproveitamento dos resíduos de calçados, bem como, uma forma de agregar valor a um material que seria descartado.

The combination of polymer is an alternative to obtain materials with properties that, in general, are not found in a single material. The goal of this work was to produce polymer blend with polystyrene (PS) as a matrix and recycled rubber compound (SBR) as a minor phase, in order to obtain superior properties to PS. The combination of polystyrene/ composed recycled rubber was prepared in a double screw corrotational extruder and, subsequently, the extruded pellets were molded by injection. These were characterized by mechanical tests, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), heat deflection temperature (HDT) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was observed that there was no significant loss in HDT and on tensile strength. The DMTA tests showed the presence of two peaks transition, a reference to the PS Tg and another regarding the Tg of PB. The morphology showed a reduction in the quantity of voids and in the size of the particles when the mixture was compatibilized with 5% SBS. The PS/SBR blends are an alternative to the reuse of footwear wastes, as well as to add value to a material that would be discarded.

ABSTRACT: The toughening of polyamide 6 is desirable for many applications and may be obtained by adding a phase to the elastomeric matrix. However, this leads to a loss in its rigidity characteristics. Therefore, this study aimed at developing blends of polyamide 6/compound by recycled rubber (SBR-R), with the addition of compatibilizer graphitized polyethylene and polypropylene with maleic anhydride method by mixing in the molten state in order to obtain a balance between stiffness and toughness. The systems were prepared in several compositions, and their rheological properties and spectroscopy in the Fourier transform infrared were studied by means of rheological curves obtained in an internal mixer of Haake Buchler. The results obtained with the rheological study and Fourier transform infrared showed that mixtures of polyamide 6/graphitized polyethylene with maleic anhydride presented the best results compared to those of polyamide 6/ graphitized polypropylene with maleic anhydride, probably indicating reaction between the components. Thus, it was chosen graphitized polypropylene with maleic anhydride as a compatibilizing agent for carrying out other characterizations. Blends of polyamide 6/compound by recycled rubber/ graphitized polypropylene with maleic anhydride and their properties were analyzed by means of mechanical tests (tensile and impact), dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and scanning electron microscopy. The impact strength and elastic modulus of the blends compatibilized reduced somewhat when compared to polyamide 6. Therefore, these results indicate a good prospect of application of industrial waste, minimizing the negative effect on the environment and adding value to a disposable material.

Nanocompósitos de poliamida 6 com argila organofílica foram preparados pelo método de intercalação no estado fundido. Foram estudadas as propriedades reológicas e mecânicas de nanocompósitos com argila nacional. A argila utilizada foi tratada com o sal quaternário de amônio (Cetremide) e foi caracterizada por Espectroscopia no Infravermelho (FTIR) e difração de raios X (DRX). Os resultados evidenciaram a incorporação do sal na argila e sua organofilização. Para a obtenção dos nanocompósitos, foram preparados concentrados de PA6/argila (1:1) em (m/m) e estes foram adicionados na poliamida 6, em quantidade de 3% de argila no composto final, utilizando uma extrusora de rosca dupla corrotacional. Posteriormente, as amostras foram moldadas por injeção e caracterizadas por: reometria capilar, DRX, MET e ensaios mecânicos (tração e impacto). Os resultados de reometria capilar mostraram que a presença da argila organofílica na PA6 aumentou a viscosidade dos sistemas. Por DRX e MET, foi verificado que todos os sistemas apresentaram predominância de estrutura esfoliada. As propriedades mecânicas sob tração foram melhores do que as da poliamida 6.

Nanocomposites of polyamide 6 with organoclay were prepared by melt intercalation and their rheological and mechanical properties were studied. The clay was treated with the quaternary ammonium salt (Cetremide) and characterized by Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results showed the incorporation of salt in the clay and its organophilization. A master was prepared with PA6/clay (1:1) by weight and this was added to the pure polyamide 6 to reach the nominal proportion of 3% of clay, using a corrotacional twin screw extruder. The samples were molded by injection and characterized by: capillary rheometry, XRD, TEM and mechanical testing (tensile and impact). The results of capillary rheometry showed that the presence of organoclay in the PA6 increased the viscosity of the systems. With XRD and TEM, it was verified that all systems presented predominantly exfoliated structure. The tensile properties of the nanocomposites were better than those of pure polyamide 6.

Nanocomposites of polymer/clay have had much attention in recent years, particularly those developed with layered silicates due to the need of engineering materials more efficient than pure polymers for certain applications. The level of exfoliation of layered silicates in crystalline structure of polymer matrices has been studied and has been observed that it affects the crystalline behavior and the physical and mechanical properties. In this study, nanocomposites of polyamide 6 were obtained by the melt intercalation method, using a Brazilian bentonite modified with a quaternary ammonium salt. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) results showed the incorporation of salt among the layers of clay, making it organophilic and that the nanocomposites presented exfoliated and/or partially exfoliated structures and confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). By thermogravimetry (TG), the results indicated that the presence of clay increased the thermal stability of polyamide 6. The impact properties of the nanocomposites showed inferior values in relation to the pure polyamide, in other words, decrease the toughness.