Processing of wood-thermoplastic composites

Abstract

Natural and wood fibre plastic composites (WPC) are among the most rapidly growing markets within the plastics industry. They are manufactured by combining either wood or other natural fibers such as flax, hemp, jute or kenaf with polymers. Thermoplastic resins, such as polypropylene, polyethylene or polystyrene, are mixed with other materials (such as wood), and form a composite product. The resulting composite can be easily processed into various shapes and can be recycled. The experiments were made to study the behaviour of the wood flour-polypropylene composite during injection moulding, and to what extent the mechanical properties deteriorate after several processing cycles, i.e. mechanical recycling. Regarding efficiency of energy recovery, the heating value of wood-thermoplastic composite with different contents of wood and thermoplastics was determined as well.

Impact of alumina particles on the morphology and mechanics of hybrid wood plastic composite materials

“…This incompatibility can be upgraded with the addition of functional polyolefin as a coupling agent, providing a better stress transfer between the polymer matrix and wood filler [12][13][14]. The selection of thermoplastic matrices is crucial for the thermal stability of hybrid WPC and consequently thermal degradation of lignocelluloses in wood [15]. At the elevated temperature, chemical chains of thermoplastic polymer become movable, so the matrix become softer until melting point is reached.…”

Scanning Electron Microscopy and Kinetic Studies of Ketene-Acetylated Wood/Cellulose High-Density Polyethylene Blends

“…have been used as construction materials [4,5]. Cellulose is the basic structural component of all plant fibers, the most important organic biopolymer produced by plants and the most abundant renewable polymer resource available today worldwide [6]. Cellulose is a polymer raw material which has served mankind as a construction material, mainly in the form of solid wood and textile fibers, such as cotton or flax, or in the form of paper and board for many decades.…”

“…Isolation of nanodimensional cellulose from wood sources and its use in nanocomposites, biocomposite and biodegradable blends will allow the production of much lighter weight materials to replace metals and plastics in various applications [3]. Natural fibers are in general lighter than man-made fibers and tend to have mechanical properties comparable to those of glass fiber reinforced plastics when they are used as fiber composite reinforcements [6].…”

“…Wood fibers can be obtained from sawmill chips, saw-dust, wood flour/powder, cutter shavings, and wood pulp/wood residues. Wood fiber acts as more reinforcing in the composite than the wood flour which acts more as a filler [6]. There is a growing interest in natural fiber composite for industrial applications in developed countries, particularly for the production of novel materials with nanoscale dimensions that are also ecofriendly for industrial applications.…”

“…There is a growing interest in natural fiber composite for industrial applications in developed countries, particularly for the production of novel materials with nanoscale dimensions that are also ecofriendly for industrial applications. This is partly due to environmental concern about manmade composite, but mostly due to their potential in cost reduction and biodegradability [6]. The modified wood fiber as reinforcing biopolymer composite has advantages such as renewability, biodegradability, durability, good mechanical, flexural, thermal, and tensile properties and a broad capacity to allow tailoring or grafting of chemical species to improve barrier properties [3,12,13,15].…”