Poliéster Reforçado por Fibras de Tauari (Couratari guianensis) Curtas e Contínuas e Alinhadas

Abstract

Currently, engineering is vigorously investing in the search for natural materials to reduce the environmental impact caused by non-degradable materials. This work aims to develop polyester composites reinforced with Tauari (Couratari guianensis) fibers, both short and randomly arranged in the matrix, and continuous and aligned. The Tauari fiber is extracted from the bark of a tree found in various regions of Brazil, especially in the municipality of Itacoatiara, in Amazonas. The manufacturing process was carried out manually, using silicone molds without pressure, without a release agent, and at room temperature. The tensile test results showed that composites with 10 mm and 15 mm short Tauari fibers achieved mechanical strengths of 18.84 MPa and 19.08 MPa, respectively, while composites with continuous and aligned fibers of 250 mm reached 19.20 MPa.