Abstract
The utilization of four types of biomass particles, including hardwood (poplar), softwood (radiata pine), crop (wheat straw) and bamboo (moso bamboo), as reinforcing fillers in preparing high density polyethylene (HDPE) based composites was studied. To improve interfacial compatibility, maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene (MAPE) was applied as the coupling agent. The effects of the biomass species on the mechanical and water absorption properties of the resulting composites were evaluated based on chemical composition analysis. A creep-recovery test was conducted in single cantilever mode using a dynamic mechanical analyzer. Results show that the four types of biomass particles had similar chemical compositions but different composition contents. Poplar particles with high cellulose content loading in the HDPE matrix exhibited higher tensile and flexure properties and creep resistance. Fracture morphology analysis indicated a weak particle-matrix interface in wheat straw based composites. Given the high crystallinity and minimum hemicellulose content, the moso bamboo reinforced composite showed high impact strength and better water resistance.
Highlights
Wood plastic composites (WPCs) have been widely used in automotive components, furniture and packaging given their environmentally-friendly features
Lignin content was highest in radiata pine
The creep behavior and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) of the resulting composites followed the general trend general trend observed in static mechanical tests, in which poplar/high density polyethylene (HDPE) showed better tensile and observed in static mechanical tests, in which poplar/HDPE showed better tensile and flexural flexural properties due to the high cellulose content in poplar
Summary
Wood plastic composites (WPCs) have been widely used in automotive components, furniture and packaging given their environmentally-friendly features. As WPC reinforcers, have many advantages over glass and other synthetic fibers in low cost, renewability, availability and biodegradability [1]. The properties of WPCs, with an identical polymer matrix and processing conditions, depend mostly on the physical and mechanical characteristics of the particles and the chemical interaction between particles and polymers [3]. To improve the compatibility between hydrophilic cellulosic materials and hydrophobic polymers, coupling agents such as maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene and maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene are usually applied during composite processing [4]. The improved fiber-matrix interaction due to ester linkages facilitates
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