Wood–plastics composites with better fire retardancy and durability performance

This study concerns the preparation and study of wood–plastic composites (WPCs). The matrix used was high density polyethylene. Results showed that the addition of wood fibres increased mechanical properties (tensile, flexural and compression) of the neat plastic remarkably. Additives such as fire retardants and light stabilizers were added to improve properties like fire retardancy and durability performance. The addition of fire retardants could lead to auto-extinguishing materials when ammonium polyphosphate or aluminium hydroxide were used. Outdoor durability depended on both the light stabilizer and the fire retardant added to the formulation. The fire retardant worsened the outdoor durability. However, stabilized fire retarded-WPCs showed much lower fading than non-stabilized non-fire retarded composites and several industrial samples. Stabilized composites with aluminium hydroxide as fire retardant showed the best overall results with a fading degree even lower than the stabilized non-fire retarded composite.     

Estimation of modulus of elasticity of plastics and wood plastic composites using a Taber stiffness tester

This study measured the modulus of elasticity (MOE) of various plastics and composite materials with a Taber stiffness tester as an alternative to conventional universal testing machines. The proposed approach presents an expedited means to assess MOE for a wide range of plastics and wood plastic composites (WPCs) with various shapes. The Taber stiffness units and the geometry of the samples acted as the basis for the calculation of the MOE. The results showed a high correlation between the MOE calculated from Taber units and that obtained on a universal testing machine (Instron). Concurrently, Taber units showed the potential to assess stiffness of samples with irregular shapes, such as in the case of extruded rods, which exhibit this characteristic.     

The effect of reprocessing on the mechanical properties of polypropylene reinforced with wood pulp,flax or glass fibre

Composites of polypropylene, substitutable for a given application and reinforced with: Medium Density Fibreboard fibre (MDF) (40 wt%); flax (30 wt%); and glass fibre (20 wt%), were evaluated after 6 injection moulding and extrusion reprocessing cycles. Of the range of tensile, flexural and impact properties examined, MDF composites showed the best mean property retention after reprocessing (87%) compared to flax (72%) and glass (59%). After 1 reprocessing cycle the glass composite had higher tensile strength (56.2 MPa) compared to the MDF composite (44.4) but after 6 cycles the MDF was stronger (35.0 compared to 29.6 MPa for the glass composite). Property reductions were attributed to reduced fibre length. MDF fibres showed the lowest reduction in fibre length between 1 and 6 cycles (39%), compared to glass (51%) and flax (62%). Flax fibres showed greater increases in damage (cell wall dislocations) with reprocessing than was shown by MDF fibres.     

Dimensional stability and mechanical behaviour of wood–plastic composites based on recycled and virgin high-density polyethylene (HDPE)

This paper investigated the stability, mechanical properties, and the microstructure of wood–plastic composites, which were made using either recycled or virgin high-density polyethylene (HDPE) with wood flour (Pinus radiata) as filler. The post-consumer HDPE was collected from plastics recycling plant and sawdust was obtained from a local sawmill. Composite panels were made from recycled HDPE through hot-press moulding exhibited excellent dimensional stability as compared to that made from virgin HDPE. The tensile and flexural properties of the composites based on recycled HDPE were equivalent to those based on virgin HDPE. Adding maleated polypropylene (MAPP) by 3–5 wt% in the composite formulation significantly improved both the stability and mechanical properties. Microstructure analysis of the fractured surfaces of MAPP modified composites confirmed improved interfacial bonding. Dimensional stability and strength properties of the composites can be improved by increasing the polymer content or by addition of coupling agent. This project has shown that the composites treated with coupling agents will be desirable as building materials due to their improved stability and strength properties.     

Die drawn wood polymer composites. I. Mechanical properties

Oriented wood polymer composites (WPC) have been prepared by the Leeds die drawing process. Softwood and hardwood powder were used at 40% weight concentration (32% volume concentration) and in both cases materials with significantly increased stiffness (from 1.9 to 8.2 GPa) and strength (from 13 to 127 MPa) were obtained. Although the moduli of the drawn filled composites were lower than the equivalent unfilled polypropylene, the specific moduli, which take into account the lower density of the die drawn materials due to void formation were very similar. The type of wood particles and the use of polypropylene grafted with maleic anhydride had only a marginal influence on the mechanical properties of the die drawn composites. The morphology of the wood composites was studied by electron microscopy.     

Fabrication of nature-inspired bulk laminar composites by a powder processing

Among many kinds of “nano-laminar” composites inspired by the brick and mortar structure of nacre in mollusk shells, a bulky, dense and ceramics–base composite has been a missing piece despite its importance. Here we report that such a composite with a submicron-order layered structure can be fabricated by a simple method, sintering aligned flake-like inorganic powder coated with ductile matrix material. The composites fabricated by this method had crack extension resistance by interface delamination, crack deflection, and ligament bridging by the ductile matrix. They showed non-brittle fracture behavior in a bending test despite a quite high flake volume fraction of over 80%, and had a work of fracture (WOF) of more than 300 J/m², several hundreds times as large as that of monolithic glass.     

Wood–plastic composites formulated with virgin and recycled ABS

It is demonstrated that wood–plastic composites (WPCs) having desirable mechanical properties can be formulated using acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) as the matrix polymer. This is accomplished by compounding the polymer with 50 wt.% wood particulates using a twin-screw extruder; both virgin resin and polymer recovered from computer monitors and keyboards were utilized for this purpose. It was found that, while the impact strength and ductility of the virgin and recycled polymers were significantly different, the composite properties differed only slightly from each other. These properties could be improved with the use of coupling agents, but the extent of improvement depended on the chemical nature of the coupling agent employed. In view of this, ABS recovered from post-consumer applications can be recycled into high-value composites without going through the expense of separating out impurities from the polymer.     

Preparation and properties of self-reinforced poly(lactic acid) composites based on oriented tapes

The inherent brittleness and poor thermal resistance of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) are two main challenges toward a wider industrial application of this bioplastic. In the present work, through the development of self-reinforced PLA (SR-PLA) or “all-PLA” composites, the high brittleness and low heat deflection temperature (HDT) of PLA have been overcome, while simultaneously improving the tensile strength and modulus of SR-PLA. The obtained composites are fully biobased, recyclable and under the right conditions compostable. For the creation of SR-PLA composites, first a tape extrusion process was optimized to ensure superior mechanical properties. The results show that SR-PLA composites exhibited enhanced moduli (2.5 times) and tensile strengths (2 times) and showed 14 times increase in impact energy compared to neat PLA. Finally, the HDT of SR-PLA was also increased by about 26 °C compared to neat PLA, mainly as a result of an increase in modulus and crystallinity.     

Some technological properties of wood–styrofoam composite panels

Synthetic resins are widely used in wood based composites manufacturing. Besides their many advantages, most of them contain formaldehyde and a chemical agents that cause environmental problems. Styrofoam known as expanded polystyrene, is used all over the world for various purposes including thermal insulation, packing, coffee cups, fabrication of car parts etc. This study investigated the evaluation possibilities of styrofoam wastes in plywood production as a bonding material. Pine (Pinus pinea) and poplar (Populus deltoides I-77/51) veneers were used to produce wood–styrofoam composite (WSC) and traditional plywood. Urea-formaldehyde adhesive was used as bonding material for traditional plywood panels. Two different types of styrofoam having high density (25 kg/m³) and low density (10 kg/m³) were used as binder in the manufacturing of WSC panels. Bonding and bending strength, modulus of elasticity, density and thermal conductivity of plywood and WSC panels were investigated. Experimental results showed that mechanical properties of panels manufactured with low density styrofoam type were higher than those of panels manufactured with high density styrofoam type. The lowest thermal conductivity among the all panels was found for poplar panels manufactured with high density styrofoam.     

Mechanical analysis and toughening mechanisms of a multiphase recycled CFRP

The mechanical response of a recycled CFRP is investigated experimentally. A complex multiscale microstructure is revealed, with both dispersed fibres (with fractured-sections) and fibre-bundles. The specific properties of the recyclate compare favourably with those of aluminium and glass–fibre composites. Micromechanical studies show that tensile failure follows the pre-existing fractured-sections on the dispersed-fibres, while compressive failure occurs by shear-banding. Fracture toughness measurements coupled with SEM evidence how bundles considerably toughen the composite by complex failure mechanisms. This analysis can guide the optimisation of recycling processes and support the development of design methods for recycled CFRP; it also provides insight on the mechanical response of other multiphase short-fibre reinforced materials.     

The effect of pre-softened wood chips on wood fibre aspect ratio and mechanical properties of wood–polymer composites

The objective of this work was to study the effect of chemical pre-treatment and moisture content of wood chips on the wood particle aspect ratio after compounding in a twin-screw extruder and on the mechanical properties of wood–polymer composites (WPCs). Composites with 50 wt.% wood content were manufactured using pre-treated and untreated wood chips. The effect of wood moisture content on composite properties was studied by using dried and undried wood chips. The mechanical properties and fracture surfaces of the composites as well as the microstructure and aspect ratio of wood particles after compounding were studied. The highest wood particle aspect ratio after extrusion was achieved by using pre-treated, undried wood chips as raw material. The chemical pre-treatment was found to enhance the defibration of wood chips as well as the mechanical properties of the composites.     

Epoxy composites containing CFRP powder wastes

The increasing utilisation of carbon materials increases the waste generation. Therefore, it is necessary to analyse recycling alternatives. In this research, carbon powder wastes obtained from the cutting process of laminate composites have been incorporated into epoxy matrix phase in order to improve the mechanical characteristics. Physical and mechanical properties, hardness, abrasion, erosion and thermal behaviour have been analysed. Results show that carbon powder wastes incorporated to new epoxy matrix phases act basically as reinforcement. This allows for the recycling of the residues as well as improves some properties of the composites.     

Wood based PLA and PP composites: Effect of fibre type and matrix polymer on fibre morphology,dispersion and composite properties

This study presents a comparison of the effect of various wood fibre types in polylactic acid and polypropylene composites produced by melt processing. The study also reveals the reinforcing effect of pelletised wood fibres compared to conventionally used wood flour or refined fibres. Composites containing 30 wt.% of chemical pulps, thermomechanical pulp and wood flour were produced by compounding and injection moulding. Fibre morphologies were analysed before and after melt processing. The dispersion of the fibres and mechanical performance of the composites were also investigated. Fibre length was reduced during melt processing steps, reduction being higher with longer fibres. Wood fibres provided clearly higher plastic reinforcement than wood flour. Comparing the wood fibre types, TMP fibres provided the highest improvement in mechanical properties in polylactic acid composites with uniform fibre dispersion. In polypropylene composites, fibre selection is not as crucial.     

Effects of anatomical and chemical properties of wood on the quality of particleboard

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of anatomical and chemical structures of wood on the quality properties of particleboard containing different mixture of wood species. Urea–formaldehyde adhesive was used as a binder for manufacturing of test panels. Anatomical and chemical properties of wood species, and physical and mechanical properties particleboards were evaluated. The anatomical and chemical structures were found to be effective on the all of the properties of particleboards. Panels made from the particles including more amount of pine wood had highest mechanical strength properties and lowest thickness swelling values. Cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin contents, acidity and solubility values (in hot–cold water, dilute alkali and alcohol benzene) of wood significantly affected all of the properties of particleboards. The physical and mechanical properties of particleboards showed statistically differences related to the length, thickness and number of the cells and fibers.     

Platelet-reinforced polymer matrix composites by combined gel-casting and hot-pressing. Part I: Polypropylene matrix composites

Platelet-reinforced polymer matrix composites were fabricated by a combined gel-casting and hot-pressing method. Submicrometer-thin alumina platelets were dispersed in a highly diluted grafted maleic anhydride polypropylene solution. Upon cooling, the polymer formed a gel which trapped the platelets in their well separated positions. During subsequent solvent evaporation, the polymer–platelet gel densified and the platelets were oriented horizontally. The dried composites were hot-pressed to further improve the platelet orientation and increase the density of entanglements in the polymer. This method combines several advantages of large scale and lab-scale fabrication methods in that it is fast, simple but also versatile. Composites with platelet volume fractions up to 0.5 were easily fabricated. The maximal achieved yield strength and elastic modulus of the composites were 82% and 13 times higher, respectively, than the values of the polymer alone. The enhancement in the composites mechanical properties was caused by classical load transfer into the platelets as the crystallinity of the polymeric matrix was not affected by the platelets. Alumina platelets with an aspect ratio below the critical value allowed for the ductile platelet pull-out fracture mode enabling large plastic deformation of the composites prior to fracture. At high concentrations of platelets, the strength and stiffness decreased again and the ductility was almost lost due to out-of-plane misalignment of platelets and the increasing number and size of voids incorporated during the fabrication. The designing principles and fabrication method described in this work can potentially be extended to other types of polymers and platelets to create new composites with tailored properties.     

Axial compression strength of Norway spruce related to structural variability and lignin content

Variability in the axial tensile strength and Young's modulus of wood is mostly due to changes in the main orientation of the cellulose microfibrils with respect to the cell axis. By contrast, the causes of variability in the axial compression strength of wood are less well understood. Therefore, the axial compression strength and density as well as microfibril angle and lignin content of Norway spruce specimens were examined. 84% of the variability of compression strength could be explained by density. After normalisation of compression strength for density, the experimental results showed that variability in the microfibril angle in the secondary cell wall is not responsible for variability in the axial compression strength of the cell wall. This finding is supported by theoretical considerations using a composite failure criterion. Deviations of the microfibrils from a strictly axial alignment in the vicinity of rays are most probably the cause for the initiation of compression failure in Norway spruce. The lignin content of the secondary cell wall showed a positive relationship at low statistical significance with the compression strength of the cell wall. A positive effect of increasing lignin content on compression strength seems therefore possible, but very weak.     

Static and free vibration analysis of functionally graded plates based on a new quasi-3D and 2D shear deformation theories

In this study, two dimensional (2D) and quasi three-dimensional (quasi-3D) shear deformation theories are presented for static and free vibration analysis of single-layer functionally graded (FG) plates using a new hyperbolic shape function. The material of the plate is inhomogeneous and the material properties assumed to vary continuously in the thickness direction by three different distributions; power-law, exponential and Mori–Tanaka model, in terms of the volume fractions of the constituents. The fundamental governing equations which take into account the effects of both transverse shear and normal stresses are derived through the Hamilton's principle. The closed form solutions are obtained by using Navier technique and then fundamental frequencies are found by solving the results of eigenvalue problems. In-plane stress components have been obtained by the constitutive equations of composite plates. The transverse stress components have been obtained by integrating the three-dimensional stress equilibrium equations in the thickness direction of the plate. The accuracy of the present method is demonstrated by comparisons with the different 2D, 3D and quasi-3D solutions available in the literature.     

Effect of TiO2 and nanoclay on the properties of wood polymer nanocomposite

High density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP) and poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) with Phragmiteskarka wood flour (WF) and polyethylene-co-glycidyl methacrylate (PE-co-GMA) was used to develop wood polymer composite (WPC) by solution blending method. The effect of addition of nanoclay and TiO₂ on the properties of the composite was examined. The exfoliation of silicate layers and dispersion of TiO₂ nanopowder was studied by X-ray diffractometry and transmission electron microscopy. The improvement in miscibility among polymers due to addition of compatibilizer was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). WPC treated with 3 phr each of clay and TiO₂ showed an improvement in thermal stability. Mechanical, UV resistance and flame retarding properties were also enhanced after the incorporation of clay/TiO₂ nanopowder to the composites. Both water and water vapor absorption were found to decrease due to inclusion of nanoclay and TiO₂ in WPC.     

Low-velocity impact and static behaviors of high-resilience thermal-bonding inter/intra-ply hybrid composites

This study prepared inter/intra-ply hybrid composites reinforced with sandwich-structure recycled Kevlar nonwoven/glass woven compound fabric. Negative-depth needle punching and thermal bonding were applied to strengthen the structure with two compound cover plies and a fluffy cushioning center ply. The effects of center ply areal density, needle punching depth, and fiber blending ratio on the static and dynamic impact resistance behaviors of the composites were investigated. The results indicated that areal density significantly influenced the static and dynamic impact behaviors, which were both enhanced by the promotion of thermal-bonding points. As the needle punching deepened, the static and dynamic puncture resistances represented opposite tendencies because of different failure mechanisms. Static friction was the dominant factor for static puncture resistance, whereas kinetic friction was the dominant factor for dynamic puncture resistance. A similar phenomenon was observed when fiber blending ratio was varied. In terms of the non-penetrating dynamic cushioning test, areal density was the most distinct influence factor on cushioning behavior and the hybrid composites sample with an areal density of 700 g/m² could eliminate up to 66.5% of the incident force. Therefore, the inter/intra-ply hybrid composites showed high impact resistance and excellent dynamic cushioning property.     

Effect of clay and PEO-PPO-PEO block copolymer on the microstructure and properties of cyanate ester/epoxy composite

In this study, processing, morphology and properties of poly (ethylene oxide)-block-poly (propylene oxide)-block-poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO-PPO-PEO) triblock copolymer and clay modified cyanate ester/epoxy hybrid nanocomposites were investigated. The PEO-PPO-PEO triblock copolymer preferentially reaction-induced microphase separate into spherical micelles in the cyanate ester/epoxy matrix. PEO-PPO-PEO was used as both nanostructuring agent for cyanate ester/epoxy blended resin and thus the predominantly intercalated and few exfoliated platelets of were also observed with clay, which successfully reduced the brittleness of the cyanate ester/epoxy blended resin increasing the toughness of designed materials. The stiffness and heat resistance of the neat BCE/EP resin could be retained in the BCE/EP/F68/clay hybrid nanocomposites. The optimum property enhancement was observed in the hybrid nanocomposites containing 5 wt% PEO-PPO-PEO and 3 wt% clay. The thermo/mechanical properties of the hybrid nanocomposites depend on microstructure, dispersion state and the ratio between organic and inorganic modifiers content.