Synergistic effect of SiO₂, ZnO and nanoclay on mechanical and thermal properties of wood polymer nanocomposite

Abstract

Wood polymer composite (WPC) was prepared using solution-blended high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), wood flour (WF) and polyethylene-co-glycidyl methacrylate (PE-co-GMA). The effect of nanoclay, SiO 2 and ZnO addition on the properties of the composite was examined. The distribution of silicate layers, SiO 2 and ZnO nanopowder was studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The improvement in miscibility among polymers was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic (FTIR) studies reveal the interaction between polymer, wood, clay, SiO 2 and ZnO. WPC treated with 3 phr each of clay, SiO 2 and ZnO showed an improvement in mechanical properties, thermal stability and a decrease in water uptake capacity.

Nanosilica and wood flour-modified urea–formaldehyde composites

“…The FTIR spectra of the WF (Figure 5) show absorption bands originated from O-H stretching vibrations at 3435 cm À1 , -CH stretching vibrations at 2924 and 2855 cm À1 , C¼O stretching vibrations at 1736 cm À1 , -OH bending vibration at 1656 cm À1 , C-O stretching vibrations at 1112 and 1043 cm À1 , and C-H bending vibration at 1000-669 cm À1 (out of plane). Similar values for these absorption bands were found by Deka et al 33 The absorption band at 1656 cm À1 corresponds to the C¼C stretching of aromatic skeletal in lignin. 34 However, FTIR spectra of cured resins showed characteristic absorption bands in this region.…”

Fabrication of a Nano-ZnO/Polyethylene/Wood-Fiber Composite with Enhanced Microwave Absorption and Photocatalytic Activity via a Facile Hot-Press Method

“…These results demonstrated that the ZnO NPs had an enhancing effect on the mechanical properties of wood-fiber-polymer composites. Figure 9 f displays the comparison of the mechanical properties of the PZW composites with those of other peer biomass materials, showing that the properties of the PZW composites were better than those of the other materials [ 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 ].…”

Research progress in wood-plastic nanocomposites

“…Wood plastic nanocomposites are usually produced by extrusion, 2,25 –28 injection 9,29 –32 or compression molding. 17,22 –24,33 –35 One of the challenges in nanocomposite manufacturing is achieving homogeneous dispersion of the nanofiller throughout the composite material. The appropriate method for the compounding, the proper choice of the extruder type and its screw design may improve the degree of nanofiller dispersion in the composite significantly, which, in turn, improves the quality of the final product.…”