Sustainable blends of LDPE/NR and sugarcane bagasse ashes with PE-g-MA thermomechanical relationships

The polymer blends obtained with residues that before were called wastes has been growing as a viablesolution, allowing improvements in the mechanical properties and as sustainable alternative. This workreports the effects of blends of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and natural rubber (NR), with sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) as filler, with and without polyethylene-graft-maleic anhydride (PE-g-MA)how coupling agent. The dynamic mechanical behavior and a stress-strain analysis were studied. Thematerials were further evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry and morphological observations.The results showed that incorporation of the PE-g-MA reduced the strain and improved the stress and theYoung module of the mixtures. Moreover, the presence of SCBA increased the hardness whilemaintaining the tensile strength and the elongation behavior of the polymer. The results demonstrate thepotential use of SCBA in the elastomer and thermoplastic mixture, free of vulcanization agents.Keywords: Sustainable blends, sugarcane bagasse ashes, natural rubber, low density polyethylene,polyethylene-graft-maleic anhydride