Abstract
In this work, date palm waste (DPW) stemming from the annual pruning of date palm was used as a reinforcing filler in polypropylene matrix at 20–60 wt.%. Only a grinding process of the DPW has been performed to ensure no residue generation and full utilization. The present work investigates how the DPW use affects mechanical properties and water absorption of the ensuing composite. The effect of the addition of maleated polypropylene (MAPP) as a coupling agent on the composite properties was also studied. It was shown that the reinforcing potential of DPW was strongly dependent on aspect ratio and interface quality. The MAPP addition resulted in a composite with higher strength and stiffness than the neat PP, meaning that DPW behaves as reinforcement. The difference in the reinforcing effect was explained by the change in the quality of the interface between date palm waste and the polypropylene polymeric chain.
Highlights
Wood–plastic composites (WPCs) are a form of composite material produced by blending wood, or other lignocellulosic materials, with a polymer, generally polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP) [1,2]
The the fiber structure through the primary and secondary wall. This implies that the surface polarity of these fibers is much lower than that of thermally, chemically, or enzymatically chemical composition of palm tree fibers has a high amount of lignin
The reduced sensitivity of composites to water immersion in the presence of maleated polypropylene (MAPP) might be explained by two effects: (i) the improvement in the fiber/matrix interfacial adhesion, making the interface highly resistant to debonding, and (ii) the grafting of MAPP on the surface of fibers that reduces the water absorption of fibers by generating a hydrophobic barrier acting against water absorption
Summary
Wood–plastic composites (WPCs) are a form of composite material produced by blending wood, or other lignocellulosic materials, with a polymer, generally polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP) [1,2]. The literature shows that date palm fibers extracted from the waste biomass via either chemical, enzymatic, or just mechanical defibration methods produce long particles with aspect ratios (length/diameter) over 10 These fibers typically enhance the stiffness of the material, and in some cases, increments in the strength are observed. The results on the use of date palm wastes in a filler-like shape (aspect ratios below 10), usually obtained by mechanical grinding, sometimes followed by sieving, are widespread Such composites charged up with date palm fillers do not usually comply with the mechanical requirements, as the strength of the material is usually significantly lower than the one of the neat plastics, whereas increments in the stiffness are not high enough to be compared with those of wood-based composites. A characterization of the mechanical behavior and water absorption of the obtained materials has been carried out
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