Barley husk and coconut shell reinforced polypropylene composites: The effect of fibre physical,chemical and surface properties

The main objective of this research was to study the potential of grain by-product such as barley husk, coconut shell as reinforcements for thermoplastic as an alternative or together with wood fibres. Thermal degradation characteristics of those fibres were studied to investigate the feasibility of these fibres to the processing point of view. The particle morphology and particle size was investigated by scanning electron microscopy. Water absorption properties of the fibres were studied to evaluate the viability of these fibres as reinforcements. The chemical composition and surface chemistry of those fibres were also determined to evaluate its importance in determining the end-use properties of composites. Polypropylene composites were fabricated using a high speed mixer followed by injection moulding with 40 wt.% of fibre load. Tensile and Charpy impact strength of resulting composites were investigated.     

Physical,mechanical, and biodegradable properties of meranti wood polymer composites

In-situ polymerization and solution casting techniques are two effective methods to manufacture wood polymer composites (WPCs). In this study, wood polymer composites (WPCs) were manufactured from meranti sapwood by solution casting and in-situ polymerization process using methyl methacrylate (MMA) and epoxy matrix respectively. Physical, mechanical, and morphological characterizations of fabricated WPCs were then carried out to analyse their properties. Morphological properties of composites samples were analyzed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The result reveals that in-situ wood composite exhibited better properties compared to pure wood, 5% WPC and 20% WPC. Moreover, in-situ WPC had lowest water absorption and least biodegraded. Conversely, pure wood shown moderate mechanical strength, high biodegradation and water absorption rate. In term of biodegradation, earth-medium brought more severe effect than water in deteriorating the properties of the specimens.     

Vetiver–polypropylene composites: Physical and mechanical properties

Injection molded vetiver–polypropylene (PP) composites at various ratios of vetiver content and vetiver length were prepared. When compared to PP, vetiver–PP composites exhibited higher tensile strength and Young’s modulus but lower elongation at break and impact strength. An increase in vetiver content led to an increase in viscosity, heat distortion temperature, crystallization temperature, and Young’s modulus of the composites. On the other hand, the decomposition temperature, tensile strength, elongation at break, and impact strength decreased with increasing vetiver content. The chemical treatment of the vetiver grass improved the mechanical properties of the composites.     

木粉/聚丙烯木塑复合泡沫材料吸能特性

采用模压法制备木粉/聚丙烯复合泡沫材料,并对不同木粉含量的泡沫材料进行静态压缩、循环压缩、压缩蠕变、动态热机械分析的测试,探讨了不同木粉含量的木粉/聚丙烯复合泡沫材料的能量吸收效果。结果表明: 随着木粉含量的增加,木粉/聚丙烯木塑复合泡沫材料的能量吸收量、能量吸收效率参数、松弛率、循环损耗量、动态力学性能等均呈先升后降的趋势,在木粉质量比为30%时泡沫材料吸能性能达到最佳。     

Physical and mechanical properties of injection-molded wood powder thermoplastic composites

In the last decades, filler-reinforced thermoplastics especially natural filler-reinforced plastics have been frequently used to improve the physical and thermal properties of polymer materials in plastic industry due to their low density, fully degradable, helpful to reduce the CO₂ emission, free from health hazard and low cost. At current study, wood powder/polypropylene composites (wood/PP) with different filler contents were molded by injection molding process to investigate the effect of filler content on the physical and mechanical properties of the composites. Additionally, the comparison of physical and mechanical properties between talc/PP (which has been widely used in the automotive products) and wood/PP has been carried out based on the tensile, bending, Izod impact tests and the scanning electron microscope observation on the fracture surfaces. Results showed that the highest mechanical property of wood/PP was determined at 30?wt.% wood content. More interesting is that, at the same composite density up to 30?wt.%, the mechanical property of wood/PP was much higher than that of talc/PP. Theoretically, Nielsen equation is often used to predict the elastic modulus of filler reinforced plastics, and in this study, the predicted values were in good agreement with experimental values up to 30?wt.%, after that, they were higher to the experimental values of wood/PP composite. It is considered that is due to the discounted of the distribution and orientation of the filler in the matrix in Nielsen equation.     

Flexural properties and micromorphologies of wood flour/carbon nanofiber/maleated polypropylene/polypropylene composites

The effects of carbon nanofibers (CNF) on the performance of three- or more phase composites are complicated. CNFs formulated into wood flour (WF)/maleated polypropylene (MAPP)/polypropylene (PP) composites by high shear blending alone improved flexural properties. Addition of an extrusion step after high shear blending enhanced CNF dispersion and improved the composites’ flexural moduli, but in these systems CNF did not contribute to flexural property enhancement. The addition of 1.0 wt% CNF to WF/MAPP/PP by high shear blending followed by extrusion did not affect either the WF dispersion or WF/PP adhesion. The adhesion between WF and PP/MAPP matrix was good (SEM), but CNF adhesion to the PP/MAPP matrix was poor.     

纳米蒙脱土对木粉/聚丙烯复合材料发泡性能的影响

采用高压釜间歇式发泡法,结合超临界CO2微孔发泡技术制备了发泡木粉-纳米蒙脱土(NMMT)/聚丙烯(PP)复合材料.通过对复合材料的结晶行为、流变性能、泡孔形貌及压缩性能进行分析,主要研究了NMMT对其微孔结构及力学性能的改善作用.结果 表明:NMMT的引入使木粉/PP复合材料中PP基体的结晶速率加快,结晶度减小,有利...     

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 chemical modification of wood particles with glutaraldehyde and 1,3-dimethylol-4,5-dihydroxyethyleneurea on properties of the resulting polypropylene composites

Both glutaraldehyde (GA) and 1,3-dimethylol-4,5-dihydroxyethyleneurea (DMDHEU) can crosslink the cell wall polymers and dimensionally stabilize wood particles and the treated wood particles are thus expected to enhance the properties of the resulting wood particle/polypropylene composites. Compared to the composites filled with untreated particles, treatments of wood particles with both GA and DMDHEU showed a great reduction in water uptake and dimensional swelling of the resulting composites up to 39% and 46%, respectively. Both the flexural and tensile moduli increased due to wood particles treatments with GA and DMDHEU. Treatments of wood particles improved the tensile strength but moderately weakened the flexural strength and Charpy impact strength of the composites. Dynamic mechanical analysis and microscopy suggested an improved interfacial compatibility between wood particles and matrix due to GA and DMDHEU treatments. Chemical treatment resulted in smaller particle sizes and altered microscopic fracture appearance after composite production as compared to untreated particles. Morphological changes were attributed to embrittlement of wood particles, which may negatively influence the mechanical properties of the resulting composites.     

Studies of surface-modified wood flour/polypropylene composites

Wood flour (WF)/polypropylene (PP) composites have been made by extrusion and hot press compression molding. The composite water uptake and flexural properties were investigated. The composite fracture surfaces were studied by SEM. WF esterified with octanoyl chloride was used in WF/PP composites to improve the composites’ water resistance. Maleated polypropylene (MAPP) was also studied and compared with esterification by acid chlorides. Esterification by octanoyl chloride reduced the composite water uptake. However, the C₈ chain is still not long enough to form effective entanglements with the PP matrix. So, despite enhancements in hydrophobic interactions, flexural strengths and flexural moduli decreased. MAPP (MW = 47000) polymer chains can entangle with the matrix polypropylene molecules. Therefore, when MAPP’s maleic anhydride functions esterify WF surface hydroxyls, improved water resistance and composite flexural properties were achieved. The modifier chain length is of critical importance and more important than the surface density of hydrophobic groups for improving WF–PP interfacial adhesion and composite mechanical performance.     

Physical,mechanical and morphological properties of polymer composites manufactured from carbon nanotubes and wood flour

The objective of this investigation was to evaluate physical, mechanical and morphological properties of experimental polymer type panels made from single-wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) and wood flour. The composites with different SWCNTs (0, 1, 2, 3 phc) and maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene (MAPE) (0 and 3 phc) contents were mixed by melt compounding in an internal mixer and then the composites manufactured by injection molding method. The mass ratio of the wood flour to LDPE was 50/50 (w/w) in all compounds. Water absorption, thickness swelling, bending characteristics, impact strength and morphological properties of the manufactured composites were evaluated. Based on the findings in this work the water absorption and thickness swelling of the nanocomposites decreased with increasing with amount of the SWCNTs (from 1 to 3 phc) and MAPE (3 phc) in the panels. The mechanical properties of LDPE/wood-flour composites could be significantly enhanced with increased percentage of MAPE and SWCNTs content. Panels having 2 phc SWCNTs and 3 phc MAPE exhibited the highest impact strength value. Also Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) micrographs showed that carbon nanotubes can fill the voids of wood plastic composites as well as addition of MAPE and SWCNTs enhanced interaction between the components.     

Effects of formulation variables on surface properties of wood plastic composites

Degree of surface quality of wood plastic composites (WPCs) is a function of both raw material characteristics and the manufacturing variables. The WPC panels comprised of different panel densities (800, 950, 1000, and 1080 kg/m³), wood flour contents (50, 60, 70, and 80 wt.%), wood flour sizes (<0.5, ?0.5 to <0.8, 0.8–1, and >1 mm), and hot-pressing temperatures (190 and 210 °C) were manufactured using a dry blend/flat-pressing method under laboratory conditions. The surface smoothness of the WPC panels improved with increasing WPC density, plastic content, and hot-pressing temperature while it deteriorated with increasing wood flour size. The reduction in the particle size of the WF resulted in a more compact structure on the WPC surface. In general, the wettability of the samples increased by increasing surface roughness.     

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.     

Creep behavior and manufacturing parameters of wood flour filled polypropylene composites

The influence of wood flour content, coupling agent and stress loading level on the creep behavior of wood flour–polypropylene composites was investigated. Maleated polypropylene (MAPP; Epolene G-3003™) was used as the coupling agent to treat the wood flour used as reinforcing filler for polypropylene composite. The tensile strength and modulus of various wood flour–polypropylene composites (WPCs), manufactured using the melt blending, extrusion, and palletizing methods, were measured before performing the creep test. The residual tensile strength, creep strain, and fractional deflection of the resultant wood flour–polypropylene composites were measured by means of the creep test. It was shown that the tensile strength decreased with increasing wood flour level in the composites. The creep strain also decreased as the wood flour level increased. The presence of the coupling agent increased the tensile strength of the wood flour–polypropylene composites, compared with the specimens made of pure polypropylene. For those composites containing the coupling agent, the creep deflection was significantly lower than those made without any coupling agent. The creep strains of the WPC specimens observed during the creep test fitted perfectly with the four-element burger creep model. Further investigation is required of the effects of combined mechanical and environmental loading in varying proportions.     

麦秸秆/聚丙烯发泡复合材料的热稳定性与微观结构

为探讨发泡剂偶氮二甲酰胺(AC)添加量对麦秸秆/聚丙烯(PP)发泡复合材料的热稳定性、微观结构以及化学结构的影响,采用TG-DSC、FTIR和体视显微镜分析了麦秸秆/PP发泡复合材料的热稳定性、化学结构和微观结构,并测定了复合材料的线性膨胀系数、导热系数、表观密度和力学性能。结果表明:AC添加量及其热分解程度均对麦秸秆/PP发泡复合材料的热稳定性、泡孔结构和热膨胀性能影响显著;当AC添加量为1.0wt%时,其热分解程度最高,复合材料具有较好的热稳定性,泡孔结构均匀,麦秸秆与基体界面稳定,线性膨胀系数最小。所得结论表明,当AC添加量为1.0wt%时,麦秸秆/PP发泡复合材料具有较好的综合性能。      

麦秸纤维增强聚丙烯复合材料的熔融流变性

用挤塑模压的方法制备麦秸纤维增强聚丙烯复合材料, 研究了麦秸纤维添加量、尺寸及马来酸酐接枝聚丙烯(MAPP) 添加量、温度对麦秸纤维增强聚丙烯复合材料熔融流变性的影响。麦秸纤维添加量从10 wt%增加至30 wt%时, 复合材料的熔融黏度增加。马来酸酐接枝聚丙烯的加入提高了体系的流动性, 熔融黏度降低。麦秸纤维以长纤维和纤维束作为增强材料时, 复合材料的熔融黏度降低, 以细小纤维作为增强材料时, 复合材料的熔融黏度增加。温度由170 ℃升高至190 ℃, 剪切速率由0. 01 s -1增加至0. 1 s -1 时, 麦秸纤维增强聚丙烯复合材料的黏度降低。      

Processing,characterization and modeling of recycled polypropylene/glass fibre/wood flour composites

Polypropylene (PP) is one of the most common thermoplastic materials in the world. There is a need to recycle the large amount of this used material. To overcome the environmental problems, related to the polymer waste, PP was recycled and used as a matrix material in different composites that can be used in high value applications. In this paper, composites made of recycled polypropylene (RPP) reinforced by glass fibres and/or wood flour of the palm tree were prepared, characterized and modeled. The mechanical and thermal properties of these recycled polymer matrix composites (RPMCs) were measured experimentally and modeled theoretically. The mechanical properties included tensile modulus, tensile strength and hardness, whereas thermal properties included thermal stability, melting and crystallinity percentage content were studied. In addition we applied the functionally graded materials concept, the elastic finite element analysis of a layered functionally graded pressurized pipe, which is one of the practical industrial applications, was accomplished in order to have some insight on the performance of such RPMCs. The results reveal that the desired mechanical and thermal properties met the requirements of a wide range of practical applications which can be attained by adding the considered fillers. Also, the proper selection of the layers of the pressurized pipe, which was made of RPMCs, led to decrease of the induced stresses and accordingly increased the operational safety.     

Tensile properties of short-glass-fiber- and short-carbon-fiber-reinforced polypropylene composites

Composites of polypropylene (PP) reinforced with short glass fibers (SGF) and short carbon fibers (SCF) were prepared with extrusion compounding and injection molding techniques. The tensile properties of these composites were investigated. It was noted that an increase in fiber volume fraction led to a decrease in mean fiber length as observed previously. The relationship between mean fiber length and fiber volume fraction was described by a proper exponential function with an offset. The tensile strength and modulus of SGF/PP and SCF/PP composites were studied taking into account the combined effect of fiber volume fraction and mean fiber length. The results about the composite strength and modulus were interpreted using the modified rule of mixtures equations by introducing two fiber efficiency factors, respectively, for the composite strength and modulus. It was found that for both types of composites the fiber efficiency factors decreased with increasing fiber volume fraction and the more brittle fiber namely carbon fiber corresponded to the lower fiber efficiency factors than glass fiber. Meanwhile, it was noted that the fiber efficiency factor for the composite modulus was much higher than that for the composite strength. Moreover, it was observed that the tensile failure strain of the composites decreased with the increase of fiber volume fraction. An empirical but good relationship of the composite failure strain with fiber volume fraction, fiber length and fiber radius was established.     

Date palm wood flour/glass fibre reinforced hybrid composites of recycled polypropylene: Mechanical and thermal properties

Recycled polypropylene (RPP) based hybrid composites of date palm wood flour/glass fibre were prepared by different weight ratios of the two reinforcements. Mixing process was carried out in an extruder and samples were prepared by injection molding machine. Recycled PP properties were improved by reinforcing it by wood flour. The tensile strength and Young’s modulus of wood flour reinforced RPP increased further by adding glass fibre. Glass fibre reinforced composites showed higher hardness than other composites. Morphological studies indicated that glass fiber has good adhesion with recycled PP supporting the improvement of the mechanical properties of hybrid composites with glass fiber addition. Addition of as little 5 wt% glass fibre to wood flour reinforced RPP increases the tensile strength by about 18% relative to the wood flour reinforcement alone. An increase in wood particle content in the PP resulted in a decrease in the degree of crystallinity of the polymer. The tensile strength of the composites increased with an increase in the percentage of crystallinity when adding the glass fibre. The improvement in the mechanical properties with the increase in crystallinity percentage (and with the decrease of the lamellar thicknesses) can be attributed to the constrained region between the lamellae because the agglomeration is absent in this case.     

Effects of carbon nanotubes and its functionalization on the thermal and flammability properties of polypropylene/wood flour composites

In this article, pristine carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and hydroxylated CNTs (CNT-OH) were employed to enhance the thermal stability and flame retardancy of polypropylene (PP)/wood flour composites (WPC) compatibilzed by maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene (PP-g-MA). Incorporating 10 wt% PP-g-MA only enhanced the mechanical and thermal properties to some extent, but did not improve the flame retardancy of WPC. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that the thermal stability of WPC was further increased with the addition of CNTs or CNT-OH and the increase of their loading level. Cone calorimeter measurements suggested that CNTs and CNT-OH could effectively reduce the peak heat release rate (PHRR) of WPC, and the flame retardancy properties reached the optimum value when both of their loading was 1.0 wt%, for instance, a reduction in PHRR by 16.7% and 25% for CNTs and CNT-OH, respectively. In addition, CNT-OH conferred better flame retardancy on WPC relative to pristine CNTs due to the better interfacial adhesion with wood flour and PP matrix, which was evidenced by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations.