Abstract
The aim of the research was a study of the effect of activation of birch sawdust microparticles with a dilute solution of sodium hydroxide at a low temperature on mechanical properties and water sorption of the obtained wood plastic composite (WPC) samples obtained from a by-product of a domestic wood mechanical processing and a recycled polymer municipal waste. It was found that the mechanical (tensile, bending) properties of the WPC samples filled with the activated birch sawdust microparticles were higher than those of the samples filled with the initial sawdust. The sorption and swelling degree of the WPC samples with the activated filler were lower than those for the samples with the initial sawdust. However, the difference in the values of the water sorption and the swelling degree for the samples filled with the activated and initial wood microparticles were relatively low in comparison with the observed essential difference in their mechanical properties. This fact was explained by the enhanced content of carbonyl groups in the activated sawdust microparticles that are able to absorb water.
Highlights
The increasing focus on eco-friendliness, such as the European Union’s directives, has led to greater challenge for the development of commercially viable biodegradable composites
The sawdust was characterized by elemental analysis (ElementarAnalysensysteme GmbH, Germany) and wood polymers composition according to Klason and Kürschner chemical procedures for lignin (TAPPI 20022003) [12] and cellulose (TAPPI 1999) [13], respectively, as well as hemicelluloses (TAPPI 1997) [14]
It can be seen that the mechanical properties of the obtained wood plastic composite (WPC) samples filled with the activated microparticles are much higher than those of the samples filled with the initial sawdust microparticles and the recycled polymer
Summary
The increasing focus on eco-friendliness, such as the European Union’s directives, has led to greater challenge for the development of commercially viable biodegradable composites. WPCs are a young generation of composites with rapidly growing usage within the plastics industry. Such type of composite materials responds to (semi)bio-composites, because а content of a wood filler in them can achieve 70-80 wt%. It is known that reducing the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide is a fundamental challenge for the twenty-first century. In this connection, EU sets out ambitious targets towards to recycling and recovery of polymer wastes, preventing their leakage into the environment as well accelerating their usage efficiency [3]. That the practice for development of WPCs based on recycled polymers in a more extent is gained by the growing awareness of environmental problems and the importance of energy conservation
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
