Enhanced Mechanical Properties of Polyvinyl Chloride-Based Wood–Plastic Composites With Pretreated Corn Stalk

Abstract

Wood–plastic composites (WPCs) are a type of environmentally friendly materials widely used in daily life. This paper selected low-value biomass, corn stalk (CS), as the lignocellulosic resource for polyvinyl chloride (PVC)-based WPCs. To depict the relationship between lignocellulosic composition (cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin) and mechanical performance of WPCs, pretreatments have been optimized to selective removal of lignin using an alkaline-EtOH stewing process and selective removal of hemicellulose using an acid stewing process. The αC sample, in which both lignin and hemicellulose were removed, shows the highest degree of crystallinity (72.60%) as estimated from X-ray diffraction analysis results and fibrous morphology with the highest aspect ratio as seen in scanning electron microscopy images. Compared with PVC/CS, PVC/αC gives a substantial increase in tensile strength and modulus by 37.21 and 21.66% and flexural strength and modulus by 29.98 and 34.88%, respectively. These improvements lie in the reinforcing effect of a fibrous structure and the improved interfacial compatibility as proven by scanning electron microscopy and dynamic mechanical analyzer results. Considering the extracted lignin and hemicellulose can be further developed to valuable biochemicals, the pretreatment to CS adds value to both WPC materials and biorefinery products.

Designing Approach of Fiber‐Reinforced Polymer Composite by Combination of Fibrillated Olive Pomace and Marble Powder

“…Based on DTG curves after fibrillation, a maximum degradation temperature shifted to a higher temperature, from 314 °C to 328 °C, indicating an increase in cellulose content owing to partial removal of hemicellulose (Figure 4b). [44,45]…”

The preparation and performance analysis of chemical‐treated maize straw fibers and Its high‐performance polypropylene/chemical‐treated maize straw fibers/maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene/silane coupling agent composites

“…The weak mechanical performance of maize straws is mainly attributed to their higher hemicellulose and lignin content. 3 Hence, for improving the mechanical performance of maize straws, acid treatment, 13,14 alkali treatment, 13,[15][16][17][18][19] silane coupling agent (SCA) treatment, 13,15,16,20 and titanate coupling agent treatment 13 have been used to modify maize straws. In our previous work, 3 chemical modification (NaOH and Na 2 SO 3 mixed aqueous solution) combined with hot pressing was used to fabricate a kind of densified maize straw with ultra-high strength.…”

“…A portion of hemicellulose and lignin was removed by chemical modification, and then the structure of maize straws was densified by hot pressing. Moreover, Ying and coworkers further studied the influence of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin of maize straws on the mechanical performance of polyvinyl chloride (PVC)/maize straws composites, which indicated that the removal of hemicellulose and lignin of maize straws was benefit to fabricate high‐performance PVC/maize straws composites 18 . Therefore, it is possible to promote the application and utilization of wasted maize straws by chemical treatment.…”

Effect of lignocellulosic corn stalk on mechanical, physical, and thermal properties of injection moulded low density polyethylene composites: An approach towards a circular economy

“…Composites are mixtures of two or more different materials that possess superior properties compared to those of individual materials that participate in the fabrication of composites [ 19 , 20 ]. The investigations of corn stalk waste reinforced composites have pulled in due thought from academicians and industrialists for their unrivalled properties such as improved mechanical characteristics, reduced density, biodegradability and eco-accommodating materials [ [21] , [22] , [23] , [24] , [25] , [26] , [27] , [28] ] ( Table S1 ). Chen et al [ 29 ] utilised corn stalk flour and hybridized it with sisal fibres for the fabrication of PVC based composites.…”