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Fabrication and Characterization of Chitin-bamboo Composites

Undergraduate #129
Discipline: Technology and Engineering
Subcategory: Materials Science

Manny X de Jesus Lopez - University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez
Co-Author(s): Sujeily Soto and O. Marcelo Suarez, University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, Mayaguez



The majority of ocean water pollutant is composed of discarded synthetic polymers. To the extent that environment and sustainability issues have increased a worldwide demand for new materials from natural resources. Polymer matrix composites are attractive because of their low cost, high tensile strength, high stiffness, and good corrosion resistance. The present study focuses on the study of mechanical behavior of chitin films reinforced with bamboo fiber. Chitin was selected as the matrix because its availability, low cost and biodegradability. To fabricate these composites by solvent casting, bamboo fibers were extracted by mechanical means and then incorporated into the chitin solution. The films were characterized with optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermomechanical analysis. Preliminary results showed that chitin films reinforced with 10w% bamboo fiber showed higher tensile strength in comparison with the matrix. Future work involves studying the influence of varying average fiber diameter and chitin quantity.

Funder Acknowledgement(s): This work has been sponsored by NSF under grants: Nº 0833112 and Nº 1345156 (CREST Program) Nº 1400868 (PR-LSAMP Program).

Faculty Advisor: Oscar Marcelo Suarez,

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This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under Grant No. DUE-1930047. Any opinions, findings, interpretations, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of its authors and do not represent the views of the AAAS Board of Directors, the Council of AAAS, AAAS’ membership or the National Science Foundation.

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