Heat-Treated Wood Reinforced High Density Polyethylene Composites

Kadir Karakuş,Fatih Mengeloğlu,Gokhan Gunduz,Deniz Aydemir

doi:10.5552/drvind.2021.1971

Kadir Karakuş, Fatih Mengeloğlu + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5552/drvind.2021.1971

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Abstract

This study investigated the effect of untreated and heat-treated ash and black pine wood flour concentrations on the selected properties of high density polyethylene (HDPE) composites. HDPE and wood flour were used as thermoplastic matrix and filler, respectively. The blends of HDPE and wood fl our were compounded using single screw extruder and test samples were prepared through injection molding. Mechanical properties like tensile strength (TS), tensile modulus (TM), elongation at break (EatB), fl exural strength (FS), fl exural modulus (FM) and impact strength (IS) of manufactured composites were determined. Wood fl our concentrations have significantly increased density, FS, TM and FM and hardness of composites while reducing TS, EatB and IS. Heat-treated ash and black pine fl our reinforced HDPE composites had higher mechanical properties than untreated ones. Composites showed two main decomposition peaks; one coming from ash wood flour (353-370 °C) and black pine wood fl our (373-376 °C), the second one from HDPE degradation (469-490 °C). SEM images showed improved dispersion of heat-treated ash and black pine wood flour. The obtained results showed that both the untreated and heat-treated ash/black pine wood flour have an important potential in the manufacture of HDPE composites.

Highlights

The first peak of around 353-370 °C and 373-376 °C referred to ash wood and black pine wood flour reinforced high density polyethylene (HDPE) composites, respectively, while the second peak came from HDPE and was around 469-490 °C
Residue after 500 °C was increased with the addition of wood concentration to HDPE matrix
This study evaluated the effect of untreated and heat-treated ash and black pine wood flour concentrations on the physical, mechanical, thermal and morphological properties of HDPE composites

Summary

Introduction

Many studies have been carried out to improve the unfavorable properties of wood (Kaboorani et al, 2008; Arwinfar et al, 2016). Heat treatment of wood, called thermal modification, has been reported to be an effective method to provide a sustainable improvement of the physical properties such as dimensional stability and/or durability of wood. Heat treatment modifies the polar nature of wood possibly resulting in better compatibility between wood and the polymer matrix, leading to high quality and thermally stable composites.

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