Study of thermal properties of wood plastic composite reinforced with cellulose micro fibril and nano inorganic fiber filler

Wood plastic composite was prepared by mixing wood fibrils into polypropylene with an internal mixer. Nano wollastonite was dispersed in the composite to compensate for the poor thermal characteristics of the product. Thermal properties of the obtained composite were studied by different techniques including thermo gravimetrical analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, limited oxygen index and oxidative induction time. It was found that introduction of nano wollastonite increased thermal stability as well as crystallinity in the composite due to high specific surface area of nano inorganic fiber filler. Also, flammability resistance and the required oxygen content to burn the composite were enhanced as wollastonite was added to the wood plastic composite. However, wollastonite increased oxidation of the sample because it is composed of metal oxides.