Influence of potassium permanganate pretreatment on mechanical properties and thermal behavior of moso bamboo particles reinforced PVC composites

Abstract

To illustrate the mechanism of oxidizer treatment on wood cellulose reinforced plastic composites, moso bamboo particles were modified with potassium permanganate aqueous solutions and then filled in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) matrix. Mechanical properties and thermal behaviors of moso bamboo particles reinforced PVC composites (BPPC) were investigated. Results showed that tensile strength of BPPC achieved its maximum value of 13.79 MPa with 0.5% potassium permanganate treatment while modulus of rupture and modulus of elasticity reached their highest values of 30.36 MPa and 3261.89 MPa, respectively, at 0.2% concentration. Potassium permanganate treatment enhanced elongation at break and flexural deformation of BPPC. The melting temperature reached 190.8°C with 0.5% potassium permanganate treatment and the melting enthalpy of crystallization was reduced to 69.82 J/g with 0.2% potassium permanganate treatment. A uniform dispersion of moso bamboo particles in PVC matrix was obtained after potassium permanganate treatment. Low concentration potassium permanganate would oxidize hydroxyl groups of moso bamboo cellulose while too high concentration would degrade moso bamboo cellulose. POLYM. COMPOS., 35:1460–1465, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers