Effect of electron beam irradiation on mechanical properties of gelatin/Brazil nut shell fiber composites

• Autor(a) principal: Inamura,Patrícia Y.
• Data de Publicação: 2010
• Outros Autores: Shimazaki,Kleber, Colombo,Maria Aparecida, Rosa,Ricardo de, Moura,Esperidiana Augusta Barretos de, Mastro,Nelida L. del
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Matéria (Rio de Janeiro. Online)
• Texto Completo: http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1517-70762010000200040
• topic: ionizing radiation; gelatin; natural fiber

The use of natural fiber as polymeric matrix reinforcement has attracted interest, as fibers are renewable, of low cost, biodegradable and possesses non-toxic properties. In the present paper, Brazil nuts (Bertholletia excelsa) shell fiber (10% w/w) were mixed with gelatin (25% w/w), glycerin as plasticizer and acrylamide as copolymer to investigate the resultant mechanical properties effects upon ionizing radiation. The samples were irradiated at 40 kGy using a Dynamitron electron beam accelerator, at room temperature in the presence of air. The results showed that samples of gelatin with 10% of Brazil nuts shell fiber and irradiated at 40 kGy presented promising results for mechanical performance.