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Type: 
Journal
Description: 
Mechanical properties of polymer biocomposites are influenced by the interaction between the matrix and the filler surface. In this work, composites based on poly(butylene-adipate-terephthalate) (PBAT) filled with micrometric particles of zein-TiO2 complex (ZTC) were realized via solvent casting technique at different concentrations, equal to 0, 5, 10, and 20 wt%. After pelletization, the resulting materials were injection molded into standard specimens, employed for the uniaxial tensile test (UTT) characterization. From the stress-strain curves, Young’s modulus (), yield stress (), stress at break (), elongation at break (), and toughness () were collected. The addition of the ZTC proved to show a reinforcing effect on the polymeric matrix, with an increase in both and . Modelling of the mechanical properties was performed by applying Kerner’s and Pukánszky’s equations. Kerner’s model, applied on experimental values, returned a very good correspondence between collected and theoretical values. From the application of Pukánszky’s model to , the obtained value showed a good interfacial interaction between the matrix and the filler. Due to the enhanced stiffness of the composites, a reduction in the true stress at break () was observed. The modified Pukánszky’s model gave a value lower than the one obtained for the yield, but still in the range of acceptable values for microcomposites.
Publisher: 
Hindawi
Publication date: 
20 Jul 2022
Authors: 

Elena Togliatti, Maria Grimaldi, Olimpia Pitirollo, Antonella Cavazza, Diego Pugliese, Daniel Milanese, Corrado Sciancalepore

Biblio References: 
Volume: 2022
Origin: 
Material Design & Processing Communications