Effects of Gamma Radiation on Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Wood-Flour Filled Polybenzoxazines

Abstract

In this study, the composites for wood substitution made of benzoxazine filled with rubber wood-flour were fabricated. The wood flour contents was varied from 0 to 30 wt%. The effects of gamma radiation on the thermal and mechanical properties of wood-flour filled polybenzoxazine were determined. The different radiation dose (i.e. 0, 10, 20, and 30 kGy) was applied to the fabricated samples. The differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) were used to evaluate glass transition temperature (Tg) and degradation temperature (Td), respectively. While the flexural strength was determined using Universal Testing Machine (UTM). It could be noted that the increase of radiation dose provided the decrease of Td. Moreover, the values of Tg, flexural strength, and water absorption reveals the similar trend with the maximum point at 20 kGy of radiation dose.