Influence of wood species and particle size on mechanical and thermal properties of wood polypropylene composites

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the effects of two types of wood flour; oil palm mesocarp flour (OMF) and rubberwood flour (RWF), and their particle sizes on mechanical, physical, and thermal properties of wood flour reinforced recycled polypropylene (rPP) composites. The composite materials were manufactured into panels by using a twin-screw extruder. The rPP composites based on RWF significantly showed higher flexural, tensile, and compressive properties (both strength and modulus) as well as hardness and thermal stability than those composites based on OMF for the same particle sizes. However, distribution of RWF in the rPP matrix was less homogeneous than that of the rPP/OMF composites. Furthermore, a decrease of the particle sizes of filler for the rPP/OMF or RWF composites increased the flexural, tensile, compressive, and hardness properties. Likewise, the thermal stability of both OMF and RWF composites were insignificantly affected by the particle sizes.

Composites from Thermoplastic Natural Rubber Reinforced Rubberwood Sawdust: Effects of Sawdust Size and Content on Thermal, Physical, and Mechanical Properties

“…It can be observed that the TPNR composites based on RWS 80 mesh (line (E)) degraded at 362.8°C with 20% weight loss, while the degradation of the composites based on RWS 40 mesh (line (C)) occurred with 20% weight loss at 365.5°C. This finding is in good agreement with Ratanawilai et al [13], who found that the particle sizes insignificantly affected the thermal stability of wood-plastic composites. In fact, the chemical constituents (e.g., cellulose, lignin, and hemicelluloses) of wood as well as their contents mainly affect the thermal stability of wood sawdust [13,23,25], which the particle size influences lightly.…”

“…Because the wood had more degradation than the HDPE, thus, the increasing addition of wood into the composites reduced the thermal stability. Likewise, stronger interfacial adhesion between the wood sawdust and the polymer matrix increased the thermal stability [13,23]; an addition of sawdust content in the polymer composites resulted in poorer interfacial bonding between phases of the materials.…”

“…In addition, the TPNR composites based on RWS 80 mesh (solid lines) seem to give higher tensile strength than those based on RWF 40 mesh (dashed lines) for the same International Journal of Polymer Science blend ratio of NR/HDPE. Probably, small sawdust size distributes more homogeneous than that of large sawdust size in the polymer matrix, resulting in a uniform stress transfer from the TPNR matrix to the dispersed wood sawdust [13,27]. Thus, it could increase the load resistance performing from the tension.…”

“…From this information, the use of rubberwood sawdust (RWS) as a reinforcement in the TPNR composites is of great interest. Because a huge amount of the RWS waste generated from sawmills and furniture industries was greatly found in Thailand, some of the wood waste is eliminated by burning and dumping in space areas [13].…”

The Influence of Environmentally Friendly Plasticizer on the Bio-Durability of Wood Plastic Composites

“…With fast growth in the global market share recently, wood plastic composites (WPCs) are emerging as green composite materials that combine the advantages of wood and thermoplastics, for example, long-term performance, cost-effectiveness, shape flexibility, and small carbon footprint (Ashori 2008;Naumann et al 2012). Wood plastic compounds are extensively employed in interior and exterior applications, such as building, housewares, automobile components, and various structural members (Muller et al 2013;Ratanawilai et al 2014).…”