Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the use of peach stone particles (PSP) and cherry stone particles (CSP) to manufacture composite materials with a polypropylene (PP) matrix. A strong growth of processed fruit industry in Chile in the latter years has generated an increase of solid waste. Some of these residues are stones, stems, peels or others. Conversely, wood plastic composites (WPC) are materials that have been established in the international market, offering new alternatives of use for lignocellulosic by-products of the fruit industry. The novel composites based in peach stones particles and cherry stone particles were compared to a wood plastic composite material manufactured with radiata pine sawdust particles with a polypropylene matrix (WSPPP). The calorimetric (DSC), thermogravimetric (TGA) and thermomechanical (DMA) analysis, showed that properties of PSP-PP and CSP-PP composite materials were similar to WSP-PP. PSP-PP presented similar mechanical and physical properties to WSP-PP, and CSP-PP the lowest ones. The penetration of the polypropylene matrix into the peach stone particles clearly improved the mechanical anchoring between PSP and PP. This good performance would favor the use of by-products of the fruit industry to elaborate composite materials. The properties of these new composite materials could be improved by adding compatibilizer agents or reinforcement fibers to obtain applications with an enhanced mechanical performance.