Análisis de Mezclas de Almidón Y hule natural con arcillas Utilizando UNA Metodología de superficie de Respuesta

A surface response methodology was used to evaluate the behavior of nanocompounds made of thermoplasric starch (TPS), natural rubber (NR) and montmorillonite-type clay (MMT) under tension tests. A central compound design was chosen to study the combined effect of glycerol used as plasticizer to prepare the TPS (24-40.08%), of NR (9-25.08%) and of clay (2-7.36%). It was found that the combined effect of glycerol and natural rubber is the determining factor in the formation of intercalated structures, mainly by the rubber molecules. The presence of these structures allowed to obtain nanocompounds of TPS/NR/MMT with a resistance to tension up to eight times that of TPS and with considerably higher elongation capacity, of up to 230%, when using rubber concentrations >10% and glycerol contents <30% or >40%. This effect can be explained as the result of the formation of hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions among the components of natural rubber and glycerol.