Abstract
This study explores the utilization of sugarcane bagasse ash (SBA) as a filler in the development of polymeric composites, while investigating the effects of incorporating Joncryl® (Jc) as a chain extender and compatibilizer, within a Polyethylene (PET)/Polyamide 6 (PA6) matrix. The composites were characterized by torque rheometry, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Thermogravimetry (TGA). They were processed in a mixer with 3% of SBA across five distinct matrix compositions. Five additional compositions with mirrored matrices and filler percentages were prepared, each incorporating an extra 1.5% of Jc. The additivated composites presented higher values of stable torque than the non-additivated counterparts, however, only the 50%PET/50% PA6 Jc and 100% PA6 Jc compositions presented a positive degradation rate, suggesting an effective chain extension that compensated the degradation during the processing. The DSC analysis showed that the ashes acted as a nucleating agent, increasing the degree of crystallinity, maximum crystallization rate and crystallization temperature of the polymers in most cases, while the additivated composites overall presented a decrease in their degree of crystallinity and crystallization rate. Besides acting as a chain extender, the Jc also had a compatibilizer function which was evidenced through SEM images, where the additive seems to have increased both the compatibility between PET and PA6 and the matrix-filler adhesion. However, the chain extender presented mixed effects regarding the thermal behavior of the composites, decreasing the degradation temperature of some of the additivated compositions while decreasing the weight loss and increasing the residue percentage.