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Title:	Cellular structure and mechanical properties of starch-based foamed blocks reinforced with natural fibers and produced by microwave heating
Author:	López-Gil, Alberto; Silva-Bellucci, Felipe; Velasco, Daniel; Ardanuy Raso, Mònica; Rodríguez-Pérez, Miguel Ángel
Other authors:	Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. Departament d'Enginyeria Tèxtil i Paperera; Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. TECTEX - Grup de Recerca en Tecnologia Tèxtil
Abstract:	The cellular structure and mechanical properties in compression of starch-based foams filled with natural reinforcements, such as grape wastes, cardoon wastes and barley straw fibers, have been studied in this work. The foams were produced by a microwave foaming process in which water is the plasticizer and at the same time the blowing agent. The use of thermoformed sheets as solid precursors for foaming allowed the production of foamed blocks with cells elongated in the expansion direction and with better properties in terms of rigidity and strength than foams produced in previous works by microwave heating of pellets. Moreover, the natural reinforcements increased not only the rigidity and strength, but also the toughness of these foams. Finally, the modeling of the compressive modulus using scaling laws show show the stabilization of the cellular structure by the drying of the polymer matrix increases the rigidity of the solid cell walls. The flexible solid thermoplastic starch based precursor turns while foaming into arigid starch-based foam, which could be suitable either for structural applications, due to its high stiffness and strength, or for packaging due to its complete biodegradability under controlled conditions
Subject(s):	-Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria química -Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria química::Química orgànica::Bioquímica -Composite materials -Fibrous composites -Composite materials--Biodegradation -Biodegradable products -Plant fibers -Starch -Starch -Foam -Bicomposites -Biodegradable -Microwave heating -Natural fibers -Materials compostos -Fibres naturals -Midó
Rights:	Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Spain http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/es/
Document type:	Article - Submitted version Article
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