Study on the effects of wood flour geometry on physical and mechanical properties of wood-plastic composites

2017

In this work, post-consumer polypropylene and wood flour from Pinus elliottii were used to produce wood plastic composites. The effect of polypropylene grafted with itaconic acid used as a coupling agent on mechanical properties, thermal stability and morphology of the composites was investigated and compared with the composite developed with polypropylene grafted with maleic anhydride, commonly used as coupling agent in wood plastic composites. Composites with 30 wt% of wood flour and 2 wt% of coupling agent were produced in a co-rotating twin-screw extruder and after were injection molded. The mechanical properties showed that flexural strength improved on 29% and 35% with addition of polypropylene grafted with itaconic acid and polypropylene grafted with maleic anhydride respectively, when compared with the wood plastic composites without coupling agent. On the other hand, the incorporation of polypropylene grafted with itaconic acid does not change the impact strength values significantly. Additionally, the temperature corresponding to 3 wt% of weight loss determined by thermogravimetry for composites with polypropylene grafted with itaconic acid increased by 14°C when compared with wood plastic composites without coupling agent, while addition of polypropylene grafted with maleic anhydride increased approximately 6°C the composite thermal stability. A morphological study revealed the positive effect of the polypropylene grafted with itaconic acid on the interfacial bonding of recycled polypropylene and wood flour.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Polypropylene-based wood-plastic composites: Effect of using a coupling agent derived from a renewable resource

2017

“…Wood plastic composites have advantages in terms of easy manufacture process, environmental and healthy safety, biodegradability and low cost when compared with thermoplastic polymers reinforced with inorganic fillers (Khonsari et al 2015, Teuber et al 2016, Tufan et al 2016. In addition, they have been widely used as automotive parts, building applications and consumer products (Hong et al 2014, Eshraghi et al 2016, Tufan et al 2016, Teuber et al 2016.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The hydrophilic wood flour is generally incompatible with hydrophobic thermoplastics (Hong et al 2014, Güleç et al 2017. The incompatibility between filler and polymer matrix results in composites with lower mechanical properties (Spoljaric et al 2009, Hong et al 2014, Khonsari et al 2015.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mechanical, dynamic mechanical and morphological properties of composites based on recycled polystyrene filled with wood flour wastes

2017

In this work, the potential for usage recycled polystyrene and wood flour wastes as materials for development wood plastic composites was evaluated. The effects of wood flour loading and coupling agent addition on the mechanical, dynamic mechanical and morphological properties of polystyrene wood flour composites were examined. The results showed that the mechanical properties decreased with the wood flour loading. However, an improvement in composite compatibility was observed when the coupling agent was used resulting in the increase of mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties. A morphological study demonstrates the positive effect in the interfacial adhesion between filler and matrix caused by the coupling agent addition. Based on the findings of this work, both waste materials can be used for development composites with higher performance.

“…Materials reinforced with wood flour and others natural fibres increased considerably in recent years (Ornaghi Jr. et al 2014). Wood flour is easily available, light and cheap, and it can be added to commodity matrices in large quantities thus offering economically advantageous solutions , Khonsari et al 2015. The main application areas of wood plastic composites (WPC) are the automotive and building industries (Nafchi et al 2015) in which they are used in structural applications as door panels, decking, furniture, window parts, etc.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of styrene maleic anhydride on physical and mechanical properties of recycled polystyrene wood flour composites

2016

In this work, the influence of three types of styrene maleic anhydride (SMA) oligomers on the adhesion of polystyrene wood plastic composites (WPC) was investigated. The composites were processed on a twin-screw co-rotating extruder below 200°C using 20 wt% of wood flour. The styrene maleic anhydride with different content of maleic anhydride groups, 30%, 25% and 20% (w/w) and levels of 1, 2 and 4% of coupling agents (styrene maleic anhydride 2000, styrene maleic anhydride 3000 and styrene maleic anhydride EF40) in the composite formulations were tested. Mechanical, physical and morphologic properties were evaluated. The styrene maleic anhydride improves the compatibility of hydrophilic wood flour with hydrophobic polystyrene matrix. It has been observed that the addition of styrene maleic anhydride increased the wood plastic composites mechanical properties with the incorporation of 2% wt of styrene maleic anhydride 2000. The mechanical properties showed to be dependent on content of maleic anhydride in the coupling agent. Treated and non-treated wood plastic composites showed similar density values, but the void content was reduced for treated composites. Scanning electron microscopy revel the better adhesion between polymer and matrix when coupling agent were used.