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ABSTRACT:The esterification reaction between wood fibers and maleated polypropylenes was investigated. The reaction was conducted in a reactor in the presence of xylene used as a solvent and sodium hypophosphite as catalyst. The reaction between wood fibers and pure maleic anhydride was also investigated. The appearance of an infrared absorption band near 1730 cm 01 indicated that maleated polypropylene chemically reacted by esterification with bleached Kraft cellulose. However, no direct evidence of an esterification reaction was obtained between thermomechanical pulp and maleated polypropylene. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) studies showed also that both bleached Kraft cellulose and thermomechanical pulp reacted with maleic anhydride with the formation of ester links.

The esterification reaction between several wood fibers and maleated polypropylenes, and its role in determining the mechanical properties of wood fiberpolypropylene composites was investigated. The modification technique used in this study involved bulk treatment in a thermokinetic mixer. The treatment of wood fiber with maleated polypropylene had a significant effect in increasing the mechanical properties of the composites. However, no direct evidence of ester links was detected between wood fiber and maleated polypropylene by FT-IR. Thus, the effectiveness of maleated polypropylene in improving the mechanical properties was attributed to the compatibilization effect which is accomplished by improving the wettability of wood fiber by the matrix polymer, lowering the fiber to fiber interactions, improving fibers dispersion and orientation, and enhancing the adhesion between wood fiber and polypropylene matrix.

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