Manufacture of Banana-Based Paper

The paper is one of the most used elements in modern society, despite the fact that its invention dates back to ancient times. The paper is used for different domestic, labor and industrial purposes. Its manufacture is made from cellulose pulp and vegetable fibers, which have had a significant environmental impact in recent years. This work proposes the analysis of the production of paper from the use of residues of the banana plant, which could offer a better use of natural resources and a lower impact on nature. In addition, the natural fiber of bananas is resistant and is easily obtained in Latin American countries such as Ecuador, which has a high production of it. The results found show that it is possible to make paper with fiber from banana residues and that it is possible to commercialize and make good use of resources. Keywords: Organic paper, banana waste, environmental protection. References [1]A. Herrera, «ELABORACIÓN DEL PAPEL ORGÁNICO A BASE DE PSEUDOTALLO DE BANANO, CANTÓN SANTA ROSA, PROVINCIA DE EL ORO, ECUADOR,» Guayaquil, 2019. [2]R. d. León, «Fabrican papel con desechos de plátano,» CIENCIAMX, 1 julio 2016. [En línea]. Available: http://www.cienciamx.com/index.php/tecnologia/biotecnologia/8476-generacion-de-celulosa-a-partir-de-desechos-de-la-planta-del-platano. [3]A. Cortéz, «ELABORACIÓN DE PAPEL A BASE DE RESIDUOS DE BANANO,» Guayaquil, 2014. [4]M. Dávalos and S. Zurita, «Organic paper, banana waste, environmental protection,» Universidad Politécnica del Litoral, Chile, 2004. [5]G. Castillo-Tumaille and W. Espinoza- Espinoza, «Análisis de aceptación del papel a base de pinzote de banano como alternativa de,» Ingeniería Industrial. Actualidad y Nuevas Tendencias, vol. V, nº 18, pp. 59-70, 2017. [6]M. Mazzeo, L. León, L. Mejía, L. Guerrero and J. Botero, «APROVECHAMIENTO INDUSTRIAL DE RESIDUOS DE COSECHA Y POSCOSECHA DEL PLÁTANO EN EL DEPARTAMENTO DE CALDAS,» Educación en Ingeniería, vol. junio de 2010, nº 9, pp. 128-139, 2010. [7]M. Arzola and A. Mejías, «Modelo conceptual para gestionar la innovación en las empresas del sector servicios,» Revista Venezolana de Gerencia, vol. 12, nº 37, pp. 80-98, 2007. [8]I. Azman and S. Yusrizal, «Service quality as a predictor of satisfaction and customer loyalty.,» Scientific Journal of Logistics. , vol. 12, nº 4, pp. 269-283, 2016.

Durability of Bamboo Bio-Concretes Exposed to Natural Aging

In recent years, several studies on the durability of cementitious materials combined with vegetable fibers have been developed. In order to understand the properties of these materials in different environmental conditions, they can be subjected to accelerated aging through several cycles of controlled variations of humidity-temperature, wetting-drying, freezing-thawing. However, analyzes that expose such materials to real conditions of use during their useful life are scarce. As a result, this study analyzed the physical, thermal and mechanical behavior of bamboo bio-concretes produced with different volumes of bio-aggregates, which were exposed to the natural aging of the summer in the city of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). The cementitious binder was is composed, by mass, of cement (30%), metakaolin (30%) and fly ash (40%). The water-to-cement ratio was as 0.30. The mixtures were produced with bamboo volumetric fraction of 30%; 40% and 50%. After 3 months of natural aging during the Brazilian summer (from December to March), the property determined in the hardened state was the compressive strength. In addition, a visual analysis by photograph was also realize. The results revealed that higher the volumetric fraction, higher the decrease of compressive strength. The visual analysis showed several changes of the external aspect of the bio-concretes.

Production of PP Composites Reinforced with Flax and Hemp Woven Mesh Fabrics via Compression Molding

Hemp and flax fibers are among the most interesting vegetable fibers that can be used to reinforce polymeric matrices. In line with the global environmental requests, the use of these fibers especially coupled with thermoforming polymers are increasing more and more in order to expand their applications and replace synthetic fibers and thermosetting plastics. However, one of the major limitations of vegetable fibers is their poor adhesion with polymeric matrices that is often overcome by fibers chemical treatments or by using coupling agents within the matrix. Aiming to produce polypropylene (PP) bio composite laminates reinforced by hemp and flax fibers without additional process steps, this paper deals on the study of their production via the compression molding technique by using woven fabrics characterized by a large mesh size able to ensure a mechanical anchoring between fibers and matrix. Two different forming strategies that differ in the time required for reaching the maximum values of compression pressure and in the dwelling time at this value were used in order to investigate how the yarn impregnation was affected by them. To expand the applications of composites under investigation, tensile, bending, Izod, heat deflection temperature (HDT) and bearing tests were carried out. The results highlighted how the use of a waiting time before the reaching of the maximum moulding pressure allowed a better matrix flow within the vegetable yarn leading to higher mechanical performances.

MECHANICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF A POLYESTER MATRIX COMPOSITE REINFORCED WITH NATURAL FIBERS FROM Luffa cylindrica Hoen

The growing demand for renewable products has led to many studies of alternative materials. The present work describes the production of a composite based in polyester resin reinforced with fibers from the climber plant Luffa cylindrica and evaluates its mechanical performance. The composite was produced with two perpendicularly-crossed layers of vegetable fibers. The lamination was performed in a mold with two glass plates pressed by a hydraulic press. To characterize the properties of the produced composite, density, tensile and bending strength tests were performed. The final composite had a mean density of 1.16 g cm-3, making it light due to the reinforcement with vegetable fibers. Tensile and bending strengths were 13.91 and 26.70 MPa, respectively. The experimental results showed that the composite with vegetable fibers as reinforcement had lower density than the pure polyester matrix and composites produced with glass fibers. The tensile strength was higher than the polyester matrix itself, although it was still low. Also, when submitted to bending stress, the composite presented lower resistance than the matrix. Overall, the composite can be a viable alternative for non-structural applications where light materials are required such as handicrafts and office partition. Keywords: sustainable material; vegetable fibers; mechanical properties; technical feasibility. Caracterização mecânica de um compósito com matriz de poliéster reforçado com fibras naturais de bucha vegetal (Luffa cylindrica Hoen) RESUMO: A crescente demanda por produtos renováveis tem levado a muitos estudos de materiais compósitos reforçado com fibras vegetais. A planta trepadeira Luffa cylindrica, conhecida popularmente como bucha vegetal, também apresenta potencial para este uso. O presente trabalho avalia o desempenho de um compósito à base de resina de Poliéster reforçado com bucha vegetal. O compósito foi produzido com duas camadas de fibras vegetais dispostas perpendicularmente entre si. A laminação foi realizada em um molde com duas placas de vidro prensadas por uma prensa hidráulica. Como propriedade física foi determinada a densidade e para as propriedades mecânicas, foram realizados ensaios de resistência à tração e flexão. O compósito final apresentou densidade média de 1,16 g cm-3, tornando-o leve devido ao reforço com fibras vegetais. As resistências à tração e flexão foram de 13,91 e 26,70 MPa, respectivamente. Os resultados experimentais mostraram que o compósito com fibras vegetais como reforço apresentou densidade menor que a matriz de poliéster pura e compósitos produzidos com fibras de vidro. A resistência à tração foi maior do que a própria matriz de poliéster. Além disso, quando submetido a tensões de flexão, o compósito apresentou menor resistência do que a matriz. No geral, o composto pode ser uma alternativa viável para aplicações não estruturais onde materiais leves são necessários, como artesanatos e paredes divisórias. Keywords: material sustentável; fibras vegetais; propriedades mecânicas; viabilidade técnica.

On the Two Working Palettes of Almada Negreiros at DN Building in Lisbon (1939–1940): First Analytical Approach and Insight on the Use of Cd Based Pigments

This paper reports the first analytical approach carried out on two working palettes by Portuguese modernist master Almada Negreiros, found in 1991 behind old wood cabinets at the DN building in Lisbon. This is the only known occasion Almada left behind the color experiments done before starting to paint in the nearby walls and as such, it is a unique opportunity to analyze the materials and painting techniques that were originally used. The analytical setup comprised in loco technical photography in Vis, UVF and NIR; p-OM, spectrophotometry in Vis and h-EDXRF, complemented by OM-Vis, µ-FT-IR and VP-SEM-EDS of painting micro-samples and pigments in powder form. Preliminary results suggested the use of fresco painting technique and revealed some technical details, such as the use of a coarse lime sand finishing mortar mixed with natural vegetable fibers, and the extensive use of cadmium-based pigments that were not commonly used (or even recommended) in an alkaline environment. The Cd pigments were used alone or in mixtures with Fe based pigments in the warm hues and with cobalt and ultramarine blue pigments in some green paint layers. No clear evidence of organic materials that could have been used as binders was detected.

Propaedeutic Study of Biocomposites Obtained With Natural Fibers for Oceanographic Observing Platforms

In response to the pervasive anthropogenic pollution of the ocean, this manuscript suggests the use of biodegradable elastomers in marine applications. The present study characterizes 25 samples of highly biodegradable polymers, obtained blending a base elastomer with natural fibers. Mechanical analysis and Scanning Electron Microscope imaging, reveal how base polymers behave differently depending on the plant fiber chosen, on the external forcing—exposure to water—and on the doses that constitute the final biocomposite. Results suggest that EcoflexTM 00-30 and EcoflexTM 00-50, mixed with potato starch, perform best mechanically, maintaining up to 70% of their maximum tensile strain. Moreover, early signs of degradation are visible on polysiloxane rubber blended with 50% vegetable fibers after 19 hours in distilled water. Analyses demonstrate that highly biodegradable elastomers are good candidates to satisfy the requirements of aquatic devices. Furthermore, the discussed materials can improve the dexterity and biodegradability of marine technology.