Processing and Properties of Wood-Plastic Composite Containing Alkali-Treated Birch Wood Shavings and Bioadditive Obtained by Biorefinery of Birch Bark

Abstract

In the last two decades, there has been increased interest in research focused on developing innovative polymer composite materials for food packaging, obtained by compounding polymers with organic fillers, intended for the manufacture of food storage containers. Woodplastic composites (WPCs), due to high content of lignocellulosic filler, are consideredbiocomposites and can be used for the fabrication of such types of containers. Their formulations include, along with the matrix and the filler, functional additives. One of the most important considerations while developing a food packaging material is to choose eco-friendly additives. The suberinic acids (SAs), extracted from birch outer bark by hydrolysis in KOH water solution, were examined as lubricants in the formulation of recycled polypropylene/polylactic acid (rPP/PLA) composite filled with the alkali-treated milled birch shaving microparticles and proceeded by extrusion and injection molding. The incorporation of Sas in a birch wood-rPP/PLA composite was performed by treaing the wood microparticles with the SAs water suspension at the defined concentration. Their presence at the optimal content in the composite improved its processing by reducing the extruder rotor torque and injection pressure, which increased the mechanical properties and decreased the wettability of the composite.