Characterization of Irradiated Wood Plastic Composites (WPCs) Consumer Product

Abstract

This research paper emphasizes the characterization of irradiated wood plastic composites for consumer product. Throughout this research, it is precisely conducted to observe the mechanical and physical properties of WPCs and their ability to fit in the market globally. The study also carried out to promote WPCs product that came naturally from renewable sources. WPCs in this research can be defined as mixture of wood that can be replaced with pineapple fiber in a polymer matrix. Composite that used in this research mainly consists of 40% polyethylene (PE), 50 % pineapple fiber and the rest is coupling agent that enhance the WPCs mixture. After undergoes several processes such making the raw sample of WPCs mixture, the WPCs were then irradiated under required dose levels of 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 kGy with the aid of the Gamma Cell Irradiator. Soon after, the irradiated WPCs then undergoes characterization process using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). Diagnosis on the morphology of WPCs found that there was significant difference between the radiated and irradiated surfaces.