Produção de fibras de alumina biomórfica a partir do sisal

Sisal is a renewable agricultural resource adapted to the hostile climatic and soil conditions particularly encountered in the semi-arid areas of the state of Rio Grande do Norte. Consequently, sisal has played a strategic role in the economy of the region, as one of few options of income available in the semi-arid. Find new options and adding value to products manufactured from sisal are goals that contribute not only to the scientific and technological development of the Northeastern region, but also to the increase of the family income for people that live in the semi-arid areas where sisal is grown. Lignocellulosic fibers are extracted from sisal and commonly used to produce both handcrafted and industrial goods including ropes, mats and carpets. Alternatively, addedvalue products can be made using sisal to produce alumina fibers (Al2O3) by biotemplating, which consists in the reproduction of the natural fiber-like structure of the starting material. The objective of this study was to evaluate the conditions necessary to convert sisal into alumina fibers by biotemplating. Alumina fibers were obtaining after pretreating sisal fibers and infiltrating them with a Al2Cl6 saturated solution, alumina sol from aluminum isopropoxide or aluminum gas. Heat-treating temperatures varied from 1200 ºC to 1650 °C. The resulting fibers were then characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electronic microscopy. Fibers obtained by liquid infiltration revealed conversion only of the surface of the fiber into α-Al2O3, which yielded limited resistance to handling. Gas infiltration resulted in stronger fibers with better reproduction of the inner structure of the original fiber. All converted fibers consisted of 100% α-Al2O3 suggesting a wide range of technological applications especially those that require thermal isolation

Produção de fibras de alumina biomórfica a partir do sisal

Sisal is a renewable agricultural resource adapted to the hostile climatic and soil conditions particularly encountered in the semi-arid areas of the state of Rio Grande do Norte. Consequently, sisal has played a strategic role in the economy of the region, as one of few options of income available in the semi-arid. Find new options and adding value to products manufactured from sisal are goals that contribute not only to the scientific and technological development of the Northeastern region, but also to the increase of the family income for people that live in the semi-arid areas where sisal is grown. Lignocellulosic fibers are extracted from sisal and commonly used to produce both handcrafted and industrial goods including ropes, mats and carpets. Alternatively, addedvalue products can be made using sisal to produce alumina fibers (Al2O3) by biotemplating, which consists in the reproduction of the natural fiber-like structure of the starting material. The objective of this study was to evaluate the conditions necessary to convert sisal into alumina fibers by biotemplating. Alumina fibers were obtaining after pretreating sisal fibers and infiltrating them with a Al2Cl6 saturated solution, alumina sol from aluminum isopropoxide or aluminum gas. Heat-treating temperatures varied from 1200 ºC to 1650 °C. The resulting fibers were then characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electronic microscopy. Fibers obtained by liquid infiltration revealed conversion only of the surface of the fiber into α-Al2O3, which yielded limited resistance to handling. Gas infiltration resulted in stronger fibers with better reproduction of the inner structure of the original fiber. All converted fibers consisted of 100% α-Al2O3 suggesting a wide range of technological applications especially those that require thermal isolation