Browsing by Author "Flores Castro Germán Rafael"

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    Obtención y caracterización de bioplástico natural a partir de la hoja de tuna andina (Nopal) mediante (DOE - mezclas)
    (Universidad Técnica de Ambato-Facultad de Ingeniería Civil y Mecánica-Carrera de Ingeniería Mecánica, 2026-07-08) Flores Castro Germán Rafael; Paredes Salinas Juan Gilberto; Universidad Técnica de Ambato-Facultad de Ingeniería Civil y Mecánica-Carrera de Ingeniería Mecánica
    The purpose of this research was to obtain and characterize a natural bioplastic made from Andean cactus pear (Nopal) leaves through a DOE-Mixture experimental design, as a biodegradable alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastics. For the development of the study, cactus mucilage, starch, gelatin, glycerin, and vinegar were used, evaluating the influence of their proportions on the mechanical and biodegradable properties of the obtained material. The optimal method for mucilage extraction was established through washing, chopping, and soaking in water for 48 hours. Subsequently, by using statistical software and the DOEMixture design, 16 bioplastic formulations were developed, allowing the identification of the combinations with the best physical and mechanical characteristics. The prepared specimens were subjected to tensile tests under ASTM D638-14 standards and biodegradability tests under controlled and environmental conditions for 48 days. The results showed that certain formulations achieved competitive mechanical properties compared to commercial plastics, highlighting combination 4 for its higher tensile strength and modulus of elasticity. Likewise, some formulations reached biodegradability rates above 90%, demonstrating significantly faster degradation than conventional plastics. The obtained results allowed concluding that the developed bioplastic has potential as a sustainable and biodegradable alternative for low mechanical demand applications