Effects of fiber characteristics on the physical and mechanical properties of wood plastic composites

We investigated the effects of fiber variability, size, and content on selected mechanical and physical properties of wood plastic composites. HDPE and fibers were compounded into pellets by twin-screw extrusion and test specimens were prepared by injection molding. All tested properties vary significantly with fiber origin. Higher fiber size produces higher strength and elasticity but lower energy to break and elongation. The effect of fiber size on water uptake is minimal. Increasing fiber load improves the strength and stiffness of the composite but decreases elongation and energy to break. Water uptake increases with increasing fiber content.     

注塑级聚烯烃塑木复合材料性能研究

制备了注塑级塑木复合材料,研究了木粉添加量对塑木注塑成型复合材料流变性能、弯曲性能和熔融结晶性能的影响。结果表明:随木粉添加量的增加,塑木注塑成型复合材料弯曲强度、弯曲模量和熔融峰温度均出现先增加再降低的现象,当木粉添加量在30份时,复合材料弯曲强度达到30.85MPa,弯曲模量达到3065.21MPa,熔融峰温度也达到最高。     

Effects of chemical treatments of hybrid fillers on the physical and thermal properties of wood plastic composites

Hybrid filler reinforced composites are considered as a high performance materials, but limited numbers of researches on hybridizations of wood fibers and mineral fillers were reported. Generally, high amount of filler content in composites can lead to the reduction of interfacial adhesion between matrix polymer and fillers, and it limits their applications. In this study, we measured the changes of tensile strength, water absorption, and thermal properties of composites after chemical treatments to wood fibers and mineral fillers. Coupling agent had its own optimum amount for wood fibers and talc to obtain the highest tensile strength. Talc addition showed little effect of the tensile strength with alkali treated wood fibers. Talc addition and silane treatment showed opposite effects on water absorption. Melting enthalpy was decreased by addition of the fillers because of the reduced amount of the crystallizable resin and because of the interference of the fillers for crystallization process.     

Effect of formulation variables on the mechanical properties of compression-moulded phlogopite/LLDPE composites

Phlogopite is a flaky mineral with outstanding chemical, thermal and electrical resistance and is also flame resistant. These properties make it a candidate for combining it with a polymeric binder to produce a composite board. It is the purpose of the present study to investigate the influence of particle size, percentage binder and the binder modification technique, on the mechanical properties of composites comprising small amounts of binder, by means of a statistically designed experiment. The results were also evaluated by means of the analysis of variance. Percentage binder was found to be the most important controlled variable determining the mechanical properties of the composite and the following other conclusions were drawn: particle size and modification technique contributed significantly only towards the flexural stress at yield; 20% linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) modified with 200 mmol acrylic acid per 100 g LLDPE were found to be optimal; phlogopite particle size between 180 and 250 μm results in the highest tensile and flexural moduli.     

Effect of various surface modifications of wood flour on the properties of PP/wood composites

Four different approaches were used for the modification of interfacial interactions in polypropylene (PP)/wood flour composites. We compare the effect of maleated polypropylene (MAPP), two surfactants (stearic acid and cellulose palmitate) and the chemical modification of wood (benzylation) on interfacial adhesion, homogeneity, processability and water absorption. Interfacial adhesion and reinforcement improves upon the addition of a maleated polymer as expected. Non-reactive surface modification leads to a moderate decrease of interaction, while benzylation decreases interfacial adhesion quite considerably. MAPP does not influence any other property of interest; homogeneity, viscosity and water absorption remain practically unchanged independently of the amount of coupling agent used. Surfactants improve homogeneity and processability, while the chemical modification of wood by benzylation decreases water absorption significantly. The results clearly prove that the proper selection of the approach and level of surface modification may lead to considerable improvement in targeted properties.     

Effect of wood species on property and weathering performance of wood plastic composites

The effects of wood species on mechanical, thermal and accelerated weathering behaviors of high-density polyethylene based wood plastic composites (WPC) were investigated. The selected wood species are poplar, Douglas-fir, black locust, white oak, and ponderosa pine. Hybrid poplar and Douglas-fir based composite ranked highly in flexural properties. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated that thermal stability of the WPC is species dependent. The final decomposition of hemicelluloses in the hardwoods occurred at higher temperatures compared to that of softwoods. Color and chemical changes that occurred due to accelerated weathering were monitored using colorimetry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Weathered WPCs showed that color change and lightness increased with exposure time; degree of increase depends on wood species. WPC oxidation by weathering was assessed by carbonyl group concentration and was shown to increase with exposure. Hybrid poplar and ponderosa pine were shown to have good color stability among the wood species examined for WPC.     

木聚糖酶处理对西南桦木/HDPE复合材料性能的影响

采用木聚糖酶溶液对西南桦木粉进行处理,并利用热压成型工艺制得西南桦木/高密度聚乙烯（HDPE）复合材料,考察酶溶液浓度、处理时间及温度对西南桦木/HDPE复合材料拉伸强度、弯曲强度等力学性能的影响,从而获得木聚糖酶处理的最佳工艺条件。借助傅里叶红外光谱分析技术和扫描电子显微镜,分析木聚糖酶处理后西南桦木纤维的化学官能团变化和西南桦木/HDPE复合材料的断面形貌。结果表明：木聚糖酶处理能够增强西南桦木/HDPE复合材料的界面结合。在木聚糖酶溶液浓度为2.67 mg/L,温度为40℃,pH值为4.5的条件下处理2 h后,西南桦木粉的纤维素相对含量及结晶度增加,半纤维含量减小,木质素相对含量增加;木纤维的材质变软、表面变得粗糙,增大了与塑料分子的接触面积,从而提高了西南桦木/HDPE复合材料的力学性能。     

Performance properties of microcrystalline cellulose as a reinforcing agent in wood plastic composites

Polypropylene (PP)/microcrystalline cellulose (MCC)/wood flour composites were prepared containing polypropylene-graft-maleic anhydride (PP-g-MA) as compatibilizer. The mechanical, morphological and thermal properties were investigated. The weight ratio of the cellulosic materials to polymer matrix was 40:60 (w:w). The obtained results showed that tensile, flexural and impact strengths of the composites were significantly enhanced with addition of MCC, as compared with pure PP and composites without MCC. The effect of MCC on impact was minimal compared to the effects of PP-g-MA content. Scanning electron microscopy has shown that the composite, with compatibilizer, promotes better fiber–matrix interaction. In all cases, the degradation temperatures shifted to higher values after addition of PP-g-MA. The maximum improvement on the thermal stability of the composites was achieved when 5% PP-g-MA was used. However, the increase in MCC content substantially reduced the thermal stability. This work showed that MCC along with wood flour could be effectively used as reinforcing agent in thermoplastic matrix.     

Fatigue properties of wood and wood composites

An overview of the state of fatigue research for wood and wood products is presented. The extreme lack of a satisfactory data base and the persistent neglect of fatigue characteristics in wood material design is emphasized. Some theoretical considerations are presented to point out the difficulties met when attempting to model the behavior of wood products exposed to cyclic loading phenomena.A major conclusion of the work is the need for the entire materials science community to consider wood as a valuable and rewarding material upon which to focus research efforts. As wood is the world's primary renewable structural resource, a concerted effort must be made to understand its fatigue performance and the degree of accuracy in predicting life expectancy.

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Résumé On présente une revue générale des recherches dans le domaine de la fatigue du bois et des produits à base de bois. On fait remarques l'extrème pauvreté de bases de données satisfaisantes et la négligence persistante avec laquelle les caractéristiques de fatigue sont prises en considération dans la conception à partir de matériaux en bois. On présente quelques considérations théoriques exprimant les difficultés rencontrées lorsqu'il s'agit de modéliser le comportement des produits ligneux exposés au phénomène de mise en charge cyclique.Une conclusion importante du travail vise à sensibiliser la communauté des sciences des matériaux à considérer le bois comme un matériau valable et prometteur sur lequel un effort de recherche doit être concentré. Comme le bois est la ressource structurelle première entièrement renouvelable de ce monde, un effort concerté doit être entrepris afin de comprendre ses performances à la fatigue et le degré d'exactitude des prévisions de vie.

     

Effects of hemicellulose extraction on properties of wood flour and wood-plastic composites

Hygroscopicity, low durability, and low thermal resistance are disadvantages of lignocellulosic materials that also plague wood-plastic composites (WPCs). Hemicellulose is the most hydrophilic wood polymer and is currently considered as a sugar source for the bioethanol industry. The objective of this research is to extract hemicellulose from woody materials and enhance the properties of WPC by diminishing the hydrophilic character of wood. Hemicellulose of Southern Yellow Pine was extracted by hot-water at three different temperatures: 140, 155, and 170 °C. Wood flour was compounded with polypropylene in an extruder, both with and without a coupling agent. Injection molding was used to make tensile test samples. The thermal stability of wood flour was found to have increased after extraction. Extraction of hemicellulose improved the tensile strength and water resistance of composites, which may indicate a decrease in the hygroscopicity of wood flour, better compatibility, and interfacial bonding of the filler and matrix.     

Polybutene as a matrix for wood plastic composites

This study examined the feasibility of using polybutene-1 (PB-1), a ductile plastic, as a matrix for manufacturing wood plastic composites (WPCs) with improved toughness and ductility compared to currently commercialized WPCs. The processability, tensile, flexural, and impact properties of injection molded PB-1/wood-flour composite samples with varying proportions of wood flour were characterized. Analysis also included the morphology of fractured samples surface and adhesion between the polymer and wood flour using SEM. Comparisons of the mechanical properties and adhesion in the PB-1 composites to those of HDPE and PP-based WPCs found the composites made with PB-1 matrix significantly inferior in strength and stiffness (both in tensile and flexural) than their counterparts made of HDPE and PP matrices. In contrast, the processability, elongation at break, impact strength and adhesion in PB-1/wood-flour composites, superior to those of HDPE and PP, confirmed their suitability for use as a matrix in composites intended for applications subjected to high impacts.     

热氧老化对木橡塑三元复合材料力学性能及耐热性能的影响

合理利用废旧橡塑,可以避免其环境污染,同时也可改良复合材料性能.本研究采用再生高密度聚乙烯(PE-HD)、沙柳木粉和废旧轮胎粉等原材料,通过模压成型制备木橡塑三元复合材料(WRPC).探究不同热氧老化时间作用下WRPC力学性能及耐热性能的变化规律,采用FTIR和SEM分析其老化机理和表面形貌.研究结果表明:热氧老化降低了WRPC的力学性能,老化100 h后,静曲强度、弹性模量、拉伸强度和冲击强度保持率分别为93.40％,84.74％,79.75％和82.63％;储能模量和损耗模量保持率分别为84.34％和89.18％,材料刚性和阻尼性能降低;维卡软化温度和热变形温度先上升后下降,材料抵抗外力变形的能力减弱.FTIR和SEM分析可知,老化过程中WRPC发生了氧化反应,羰基指数先上升后下降,WRPC表面出现了裂纹和孔洞.     

The utilization of bamboo charcoal enhances wood plastic composites with excellent mechanical and thermal properties

In order to enhance the mechanical properties and thermal properties of wood plastic composites (WPCs), bamboo charcoal (BC) was used as reinforcing filler of WPC, and a series of BC-WPC composites were prepared. The effect of BC and water treatment on water absorptions, morphologies, mechanical properties, the effect of water treatment on mechanical properties and thermal properties of the composites were investigated. The results showed that BC could have strong interfacial interaction in the WPC. The water resistance, flexural properties, tensile properties and thermal properties of BC-WPC were higher than WPC. The flexural and tensile properties were reduced and the impact strength was increased after water treatment. The presence of BC resists the influence of water absorption on composites mechanical properties.     

Machining and surface integrity of fibre-reinforced plastic composites

The current focus of manufacturing research on fibre-reinforced plastics (FRP) is composed of the search for efficient processing techniques capable of providing high quality machined surfaces. Very limited work has been performed to identify the influence of manufacturing processes like edge-trimming and drilling on material performance. Recent reports suggest that process-induced damage may affect the mechanical behaviour of FRP materials. Therefore an experimental study of orthogonal cutting was conducted on the edge trimming of unidirectional and multi-directional graphite/epoxy composites with polycrystalline diamond tools. The effects of tool geometry and operating conditions were evaluated from an analysis of chip formation, cutting force, and machined surface topography. All aspects of material removal were found to be primarily dependent on fibre orientation. Discontinuous chip formation was noted throughout this study, regardless of machining parameters. Three distinct mechanisms in the edge trimming of fibre-reinforced composite material including a combination of cutting, shearing, and fracture along the fibre/matrix interface were observed. An investigation conducted on the compression, flexural and impact strength of graphite/epoxy composites machined by both traditional and non-traditional techniques, confirms that manufacturing characteristics may not only affect bulk properties but also influence the initiation and propagation of failure.     

碳纤维表面处理对聚合物基复合材料电性能的影响

碳纤维与聚合物基体间的界面粘接状况是影响复合材料电性能的重要因素之一。研究了碳纤维表面经浓硝酸处理后的碳纤维表面形貌与性能；碳纤维增强聚合物基复合材料的电阻率及其PTC效应的变化。结果表明：经浓硝酸处理后，碳纤维表面粗糙度增加、沟槽加深加宽；碳元素含量减少、含氧官能团增多；同时复合材料的电阻率和正温度系数（PTC）均有所提高，负温度系数（NTC）现象减弱．     

协同处理对湿热环境下木粉/聚乙烯复合材料表面性质演变的影响

采用硅烷偶联剂涂覆与等离子体放电协同处理的方法处理木粉/聚乙烯(WP/PE)复合材料表面,以改善其胶接性能。利用胶接强度测试、FTIR和X射线光电子能谱研究了硅烷偶联剂涂覆和等离子体放电的协同表面处理对WP/PE湿热环境下表面性质演变的影响,探究协同处理的WP/PE胶接接头湿热环境下的胶接耐久性。结果表明,协同处理后,WP/PE表面有含氧极性基团生成,且在偶联剂与材料表面之间形成了化学键接,胶接性能大为改善。湿热环境下,虽然处理试样的表面没有新的化学基团产生,但表面元素的化学环境发生了改变。WP/PE表面在湿热环境下的性质演变会直接影响其胶接接头的耐久性。协同表面处理能够降低湿热环境下WP/PE表面性质的改变程度,从而提高WP/PE的胶接性能,尤其是湿热环境下的胶接耐久性能。     

纤维表面处理对CF/PAA复合材料界面性能的影响

采用多结构形态倍半硅氧烷（VMS—SSO）涂层结合等离子活化纤维表面的方法对碳纤维（CF）改性,研究了纤维表面处理对碳纤维／聚芳基乙炔复合材料界面性能的影响．结果表明,等离子活化前后纤维表面涂层处理使材料的ILSS分别提高25％和45％,在碳纤维与树脂之间引入了过渡层．等离子活化纤维在碳纤维与涂层间通过VMS-SSO引入了化学键连接．含活性官能团的多形态倍半硅氧烷涂层在等离子活化纤维前后处理碳纤维,都能提高复合材料的界面性能．但是效果不同．其原因是,碳纤维与树脂间相互作用的不同,前者主要是过渡层效应,后者在碳纤维与树脂间引入了化学键．     

Study of formulation variables on properties of drug-gellan beads by factorial design

The aim of the present study was to obtain cross-linked calcium-gellan beads containing diclofenac sodium as model drug, using full 3(3) factorial design. Drug quantity, pH of cross-linking solution, and speed of agitation were selected as variables for factorial design. The resultant beads were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), percent yield, entrapment efficiency, micromeritic properties, swelling and drug release studies. The drug-loaded beads were spherical with size range of 0.85-1.8 mm. Percent yield and entrapment efficiency of various batches were in the range of 86.48-98.28% w/w and 72.52-92.74% w/w, respectively. Calcium-gellan beads containing diclofenac sodium showed pH-dependent swelling and drug release properties. Swelling and drug release were significantly higher in pH 7.4 phosphate buffer than 0.1N HCl. The swelling ratio for beads was up to 22 and 3 for phosphate buffer and 0.1N HCl, respectively. Cumulative diclofenac sodium release from calcium-gellan beads was 12-35% in 0.1N HCl within 2 h, whereas complete drug release was observed within 3-4 h in pH 7.4 phosphate buffer.     

Surface modification of wood flour and its effect on the properties of PP/wood composites

The surface of wood flour used as reinforcement in PP/wood composites was successfully modified by benzylation in NaOH solution of 20 wt% concentration at 105 °C. The time of the reaction was changed between 5 and 360 min in several steps. The progress of modification was followed by the measurement of weight increase and by diffuse reflectance infrared spectroscopy (DRIFT). The structure of the wood was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and its surface tension was determined by inverse gas chromatography (IGC). PP composites containing 20 wt% filler were prepared from a PP block copolymer and the modified wood flour. The mechanical behavior of the composites was characterized by tensile testing. The majority of the active hydroxyl groups at the surface were replaced by benzyl groups in about 2 h under the conditions used. Further increase in reaction time did not influence the properties of the filler. Both the structure of the wood flour and its surface tension changed as an effect of modification. The reduction of surface tension led to significant changes in all interactions between the wood flour and other substances resulting in a considerable decrease of water absorption, which is the major benefit of this modification. All measured mechanical properties of the composites decreased slightly with increasing degree of modification. A detailed analysis of the results proved that the dominating micromechanical deformation process of these PP/wood composites is debonding, which is further facilitated by the decrease in the surface tension of the filler. Chemical modification of wood flour slightly improved processability and the surface appearance of the composites prepared with them and considerably decreased the water absorption of these latter.     

Lateral resistance of joints made with various screws in commercial wood plastic composites

In this study, the effects of screw diameter, pilot hole diameter, end distance, thickness of side and main members, loading speed and screw type on the lateral resistance of screw joints in commercial wood plastic composites were investigated and also compared with those calculated using the European Yield Model (EYM). The results have shown that for a given diameter of screw, increase in end distance, thickness of joint members, pilot hole diameter and loading speed, increases lateral resistance of the joint. Comparing screw effect it was found that lateral resistances of joints made with various screws did not have significant differences. The results have also shown that the accuracy of EYM prediction of lateral resistance for the joints fractured in mode I_s is better than those fractured in modes III_s or V.