Abstract
Differing from the hot-pressing method in the manufacturing of traditional wood-rubber composites (WRCs), this study was aimed at fabricating WRCs using rubber processing to improve water resistance and mechanical properties. Three steps were used to make WRCs, namely, fiber-rubber mixing, tabletting, and the vulcanization molding process. Ninety-six WRC panels were made with wood fiber contents of 0%–50% at rotor rotational speeds of 15–45 rpm and filled coefficients of 0.55–0.75. Four regression equations, i.e., the tensile strength (Ts), elongation at break (Eb), hardness (Ha) and rebound resilience (Rr) as functions of fiber contents, rotational speed and filled coefficient, were derived and a nonlinear programming model were developed to obtain the optimum composite properties. Although the Ts, Eb and Rr of the panels were reduced, Ha was considerably increased by 17%–58% because of the wood fiber addition. Scanning electron microscope images indicated that fibers were well embedded in rubber matrix. The 24 h water absorption was only 1%–3%, which was much lower than commercial wood-based composites.
Highlights
As an important renewable natural biomass resource, wood fiber from forest felling and processing residues, and waste wood products, has many desirable properties, such as easy availability, low density, low cost, and high stiffness, for new polymer composite development [1,2,3,4,5,6,7]
Zhao et al [16] discovered that the sound insulation property of wood/used tire rubber composite panel (WRCP) with commercial urea–formaldehyde (UF) and polymeric methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (PMDI) adhesives was better than that of commercial wood-based particleboards
Through contact angle measurements and microscopic analysis, the results indicated that the surface characteristics were modified after the microwave treatments and the mechanical properties of the wood-rubber composites were improved
Summary
As an important renewable natural biomass resource, wood fiber from forest felling and processing residues, and waste wood products, has many desirable properties, such as easy availability, low density, low cost, and high stiffness, for new polymer composite development [1,2,3,4,5,6,7]. The drawbacks of wood, such as poor dimensional stability, swelling from moisture absorption and being attacked by fungi and insects, limit its wide application [8,9]. As a compensation for the wood drawbacks, rubber has the unique advantages of high compressive performance, low moisture absorption, good damping vibration attenuation, excellent energy absorption, good durability, abrasion resistance, anti-caustic and anti-rot properties [10,11,12]. The wood-rubber composites (WRCs) would have multi-functional properties and excellent potential for extended applications. Zhao et al [16] discovered that the sound insulation property of wood/used tire rubber composite panel (WRCP) with commercial urea–formaldehyde (UF) and polymeric methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (PMDI) adhesives was better than that of commercial wood-based particleboards. The acoustic insulation was Materials 2016, 9, 469; doi:10.3390/ma9060469 www.mdpi.com/journal/materials
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