Tensile performances of radiation triggered wood-plastic composite and trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA) as additive at different treatments

Abstract

The blending of wood fibers with polypropylene has been widely reported. The behaviour for radiation triggered wood-plastic composite (WPC) may differ for different treatment protocol. This study looks at the effect of combination style of rubberwood fiber, polypropylenes and additive (trimethylolpropane triacrylate, TMPTA) radiation treatment. The effect is measured through the tensile and flexural properties of the resultant WPC. The combination of separate radiation of fiber, polypropylene combine with TMPTA, showed the best performance for tensile at 48.2 MPa at initial stage and second best reading after 24 months. Interestingly the combination with only polypropylene irradiated gave lowest initial tensile but developed the highest strength value after 24 months storage. The dynamic mechanical test for the WPC showed the presence of trapped radicals in the completed WPC. The change in strength showed a different ageing effect in radiated sample which need to be studied further prior to usage.