BIOCOMPOSITE REINFORCED WITH MICROFIBRILLATED CELLULOSE (MFC) FOR PAPER PACKAGING COATING
Biocomposites are materials in which the matrix is generally made by a polymeric material and the dispersed phase materials from natural origin, such as fibers. In recent decades, due to the need for sustainable alternatives to petroleum-derived polymers, this type of material has been studied as coating for paper packaging (cellulose). This coating aims to improve barrier properties in relation to water, oils and gases, while maintaining environmental aspects such as biodegradation, compostability, use of renewable materials and paper repulpability. The objective of this project is the development of a biocomposite with dispersed phase of microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) that will be applied in packaging or paper artifacts normally used in the food industry. Two polymers of renewable origin and biodegradable will be evaluated for the matrix, namely the poly(lactic) acid (PLA) and the poly(hydroxybutyrate) (PHB). The biocomposites will be prepared by extrusion using different percentages of MFC. The thermal behavior and crystallinity of the biocomposites will be evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry, the morphology by scanning electron microscope and the barrier properties through water vapor transmission rate tests. The choice of the biocomposites that will be used as paper coating samples will be made considering the materials that present the best set of properties, processability and barrier to water vapor. The chosen coating method is by extrusion. The coated paper will be analyzed for its mechanical properties in tensile, the paper/biopolymer adhesion and water vapor transmission rate.