Conductive Thermoplastic Starch (TPS) Composite Filled with Waste Iron Filings

https://doi.org/10.28991/esj-2020-01218
Iron Waste Starch Composites Electrical Conductivity Mechanical Properties.

Authors

  • Danilo Battistelli School of Architecture and Design, Universití  di Camerino, Viale Della Rimembranza 9, 63100 Ascoli Piceno,, Italy
  • Diana P. Ferreira Centre for Textile Science and Technology (2C2T), University of Minho, 4800 Guimaràes,, Portugal
  • Sofia Costa Centre for Textile Science and Technology (2C2T), University of Minho, 4800 Guimaràes,, Portugal
  • Carlo Santulli
    carlo.santulli@unicam.it
    School of Architecture and Design, Universití  di Camerino, Viale Della Rimembranza 9, 63100 Ascoli Piceno,, Italy
  • Raul Fangueiro 1) Centre for Textile Science and Technology (2C2T), University of Minho, 4800 Guimaràes, Portugal; 2) Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minho, 4800 Guimaràes,, Portugal
Vol. 4 No. 3 (2020): June
Research Articles

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A thermoplastic starch (TPS) was produced, starting with potato starch, glycerol and acetic acid, to shape it in films of thickness around 100 microns. To TPS iron waste filing particles, in the amount of 12% the weight of starch, were introduced in different modalities: as received, reduced in size by the use of a mortar, after treatment with hydrochloric acid, and after treatment and removal of hydrochloric acid. Morphological studies were carried out by optical and scanning electron microscopy and illustrated that the dispersion of iron filings was not optimal, though some improvement was observed by a reduced dimension of the particles. Tensile tests indicated the considerable improvement of stiffness offered by the insertion of iron particles to TPS, although the ultimate strain was reduced to less than 10%. Thermal characterization using thermogravimetry allowed revealing the three typical peaks for potato starch degradation, with only a slight decrease due to iron introduction. EDS allowed evaluating the presence of impurities in the iron filings and evidenced that the presence of iron was more effective on the surface than in the rest of the film. As a final consideration, An improvement in electrical conductivity by over an order of magnitude was obtained by the TPS+Fe+HCl film with respect to pure TPS.