Elaboración de un material compuesto a partir de fibras de palma de aceite y una emulsión ecológica de poliestireno expandido post-consumo
Resumen
La sobreproducción de plásticos y la amplia disponibilidad de fibras naturales que se convierten en un foco de contaminación antes de terminar su vida útil, en un contexto de crisis ambiental, ha hecho que los investigadores estudien la manera de integrarlos en la producción de biocompuestos. Para este proyecto se planteó la elaboración de un material compósito que integrara poliestireno expandido post-consumo (EPS) y raquis de palma (OPEFB). Las fibras OPEFB se consiguieron a partir de palmicultoras de la región, procesándose mediante secado, molienda y tamizado con una granulometría (Mesh de 30,40, 50, 60 y 70). Para obtener el solvente del EPS se destiló por arrastre de vapor un volumen de aceite esencial de naranja (Citrus sinensis) y se cuantificó la cantidad de d-limoneno presente usando la técnica de cromatografía de gases acoplada a espectrometría de masas. Posteriormente, se disolvió el EPS y se alcanzó una solubilidad de 0,5 g/mL y con un volumen de 1 L se formuló una emulsión 1:2 agua/EPS-Citrus Sinensis que fue caracterizada usando la técnica de microscopía óptica y dos colorantes de distinta polaridad para observar su afinidad con ambas fases, permitiendo clasificarla como una macroemulsión de tipo W/O. Los aglomerados se elaboraron mediante un proceso de moldeo, prensado y calentamiento. Se mantuvieron constantes todos los parámetros anteriores y sólo varió el tamaño de la fibra. Los ensayos de resistencia a la compresión y dureza mostraron que, a menor tamaño de fibra, menor dureza, resistencia a compresión y rigidez, por lo que las probetas elaboradas con fibras de malla (Mesh) No. 40 mostraron mejor desempeño en los ensayos mecánicos.
Palabras clave
recycled EPS, EPS reciclado, OPEFB, plásticos reforzados con fibra, reciclaje químico
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