Mechanical properties and foaming behavior of cellulose fiber reinforced high‐density polyethylene composites |
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Authors: | Takashi Kuboki Yoon H. Lee Chul B. Park Mohini Sain |
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Affiliation: | 1. Microcellular Plastics Manufacturing Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3G8;2. Centre for Biocomposites and Biomaterials Processing, Faculty of Forestry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3B3 |
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Abstract: | This article investigates the effects of fiber length and maleated polymers on the mechanical properties and foaming behavior of cellulose fiber reinforced high‐density polyethylene composites. The results from the mechanical tests suggested that long fibers provided higher flexural and impact properties than short fibers. In addition, the maleated high‐density polyethylene increased flexural strength significantly, while the maleated thermoplastic elastormers increased notched Izod impact strength dramatically. On the other hand, the results from the extrusion foaming indicated that the composites with long and short fibers demonstrated similar cell morphology, i.e., a similar average cell size and cell size distribution. However, the addition of maleated high‐density polyethylene caused an increase of the average cell size and cell size distribution in the composites. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2009. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers |
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