EVALUATION OF PROPERTIES OF WOOD PLASTIC COMPOSITES MADE FROM SEVEN TYPES OF LIGNOCELLULOSIC FIBERS

Abstract

This article aims to investigate the characteristics of wood plastic composites (WPC) prepared from polyethylene (PE) reinforced with lignocellulosic fibers derived from the xylem and bark of Masson pine, fir, cypress, as well as from Moso bamboo. The surface polarity and elemental composition of fibers were determined through contact angle measurements and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The lignocellulosic fiber/PE composites were manufactured through hot-pressing technique, and their water absorption, mechanical properties, and mildew resistance were evaluated. The results revealed that the surface free energy of xylem fibers was higher than that of bark fibers among the three conifer species. XPS analysis showed that the O/C ratio of bark was consistently lower than that of xylem fiber. Among the three conifers, the Masson pine bark had the lowest O/C ratio (22.25%), while its xylem fibers had the highest ratio of 41.64%. WPC made with bark fibers had better water resistance. Additionally, the composites reinforced with xylem fibers showed superior static bending strength, impact strength, and mildew-resistant properties as compared to the composites reinforced with bark fibers. WPC made from bamboo fibers exhibited the best water resistance, with a water absorption rate and thickness swelling rate of 1.83% and 1.42%, respectively. They also had the highest static bending strength, elastic modulus, and impact strength, at 41.31 MPa, 3.82 GPa, and 10.24 kJ/m2, respectively. The WPC made from fir xylem fibers showed the most effective mildew resistance, with the smallest damage (0.50).