Abstract:The effect of montmorillonite (MMT) loading (0, 2.5, and 5 wt%) and almond shell flour (ASF) content (30, 35, and 40 wt%) on the decay resistance, hardness, water resistance of injection molded polypropylene (PP) composites was investigated. The amount of maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene was kept constant at 2% for all formulations. White-rot (Trametes versicolor) fungal treatment was applied to the produced composites for 14 weeks according to BS 838:1961 with the Petri dishes method. The weight loss of… Show more
“…2 Nevertheless, because each material is susceptible to degradation due to aging, the premise that WPC materials can durably perform according to their initial design has been questioned. Because WPC materials are directly affected by aging factors, such as ultraviolet radiation, [3][4][5] biological attack, [6][7][8] freeze-thaw fatigue, 9 and water degradation, 10 thorough research on their durability is necessary.…”
The durability of wood-plastic composites (WPCs) exposed to seawater dry-wet cycles were investigated. The most detrimental cycles were evaluated by the orthogonal design method. The physical properties, structural strength, chemical characteristics, and thermal stability of WPC materials under the worst seawater dry-wet (W-SDW) cycles were described based on discoloration/water absorption/ thickness swelling, hardness/impact strength, Fourier transform infrared spectra, and thermogravimetric analysis results, respectively. The results showed that the W-SDW cycles were: immersion temperature of 60 C, immersion time of 4 h, drying temperature of 70 C, and drying time of 3 h. The exposure to W-SDW cycles degraded the fiber-matrix interface interaction, increasing discoloration, water absorption, and thickness swelling as well as reducing hardness, impact strength, and pyrolysis temperature. The degree of degradation of the fiber and matrix is positively correlated with that of the fiber-matrix interface interaction. The analysis of the experimental phenomenon indicates that protecting the fiber-matrix interface maintains the durability of WPC materials.
“…2 Nevertheless, because each material is susceptible to degradation due to aging, the premise that WPC materials can durably perform according to their initial design has been questioned. Because WPC materials are directly affected by aging factors, such as ultraviolet radiation, [3][4][5] biological attack, [6][7][8] freeze-thaw fatigue, 9 and water degradation, 10 thorough research on their durability is necessary.…”
The durability of wood-plastic composites (WPCs) exposed to seawater dry-wet cycles were investigated. The most detrimental cycles were evaluated by the orthogonal design method. The physical properties, structural strength, chemical characteristics, and thermal stability of WPC materials under the worst seawater dry-wet (W-SDW) cycles were described based on discoloration/water absorption/ thickness swelling, hardness/impact strength, Fourier transform infrared spectra, and thermogravimetric analysis results, respectively. The results showed that the W-SDW cycles were: immersion temperature of 60 C, immersion time of 4 h, drying temperature of 70 C, and drying time of 3 h. The exposure to W-SDW cycles degraded the fiber-matrix interface interaction, increasing discoloration, water absorption, and thickness swelling as well as reducing hardness, impact strength, and pyrolysis temperature. The degree of degradation of the fiber and matrix is positively correlated with that of the fiber-matrix interface interaction. The analysis of the experimental phenomenon indicates that protecting the fiber-matrix interface maintains the durability of WPC materials.
Plantation-grown poplar (Populus cathayana) is regarded as a source of low-quality wood, with poor dimensional stability and low decay resistance. In this study, poplar wood was impregnated with sodium montmorillonite (Na-MMT) or organo-montmorillonite (O-MMT), furfuryl alcohol (FA, at concentrations of 15%, 30% and 50%), separately or in their combinations to prepare clay treated, furfurylated, and clay-reinforced furfurylated wood, respectively. The two-step method by introducing Na-MMT first and then FA and organic modifier was feasible to achieve a reasonable penetration. These components could entirely enter the wood cell lumen or partly enter the wood cell wall, and thus initiate a series of reactions. Compared with Na-MMT reinforced furfurylated wood (M-F), the O-MMT reinforced furfurylated wood (O-F) exhibited better dimensional stability (ASE up to 71%) and decay resistance (3.2% mass loss). Moreover, O-MMT played a predominant role in decay resistance of O-MMT reinforced furfurylated wood. Even at low O-MMT loadings, the modified wood had a significant inhibitory effect on the white-rot decay fungus Trametes versicolor. Based on an overall evaluation, O-MMT reinforced furfurylated wood seemed to provide an optimal choice for both moist or wet conditions.
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