RESEARCH OF PROPERTIES OF POLYMER COMPOSITES BASED ON ETHYL CELLULOSE AND OAT HUSK

Ethyl cellulose is an important cellulose derivative widely used in the paint and varnish, pharmaceutical and food industries. It is biodegradable and requires significantly less plasticizer for processing than other cellulose ethers, making it more environmentally friendly. To improve its physical and mechanical properties and biodegradation, ethyl cellulose can be compounded with lignocellulosic fillers of plant origin, such as wood flour. In this study, ground oat husk was used as a filler. The composites were obtained by rolling, which made it possible to establish relationships between their properties and filler content. An increase in the oat husk content resulted in an increase in density (, impact strength and water absorption, while hardness and rigidity decreased. Compared with materials based on ethyl cellulose and wood flour, composites with crushed oat husk had a lower density (about 1100-1200 kg/m3) and rigidity (compressive modulus of elasticity - 180-250 MPa), but higher impact resistance (up to 14.7 kJ/m2). These properties make them promising for the creation of biodegradable containers and packaging, which is especially important in the context of growing interest in sustainable development and environmental protection. Thus, the use of ethyl cellulose in combination with lignocellulosic fillers of plant fillers (oat husk, wood flour) opens up new opportunities for the development of environmentally friendly and durable packaging materials. This not only helps reduce the carbon footprint, but also supports sustainable agriculture by recycling agricultural waste.