Wood Flour-Reinforced Phenolic Foams (WFPF)

The generation of secondary processing mill residues from wood processing facilities is extensive in the United States. Wood flour can be manufactured utilizing these residues and an important application of wood flour is as a filler in the wood–plastic composites (WPCs). Scientific research on wood flour production from mill residues is limited. One of the greatest costs involved in the supply chain of WPCs manufacturing is the transportation cost. Wood flour, constrained by low bulk densities, is commonly transported by truck trailers without attaining allowable weight limits. Because of this, shipping costs often exceed the material costs, consequently increasing raw material costs for WPC manufacturers and the price of finished products. A bulk density study of wood flour (190–220 kg/m3) and wood pellets (700–750 kg/m3) shows that a tractor-trailer can carry more than three times the weight of pellets compared to flour. Thus, this study focuses on exploring the utilization of mill residues from four wood species in Maine to produce raw materials for manufacturing WPCs. Two types of raw materials for the manufacture of WPCs, i.e., wood flour and wood pellets, were produced and a study of their properties was performed. At the species level, red maple 40-mesh wood flour had the highest bulk density and lowest moisture content. Spruce-fir wood flour particles were the finest (dgw of 0.18 mm). For all species, the 18–40 wood flour mesh size possessed the highest aspect ratio. Similarly, on average, wood pellets manufactured from 40-mesh particles had a lower moisture content, higher bulk density, and better durability than the pellets from unsieved wood flour. Red maple pellets had the lowest moisture content (0.12%) and the highest bulk density (738 kg/m3). The results concluded that the processing of residues into wood flour and then into pellets reduced the moisture content by 76.8% and increased the bulk density by 747%. These material property parameters are an important attempt to provide information that can facilitate the more cost-efficient transport of wood residue feedstocks over longer distances.

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Biocomposites of Low-Density Polyethylene Plus Wood Flour or Flax Straw: Biodegradation Kinetics across Three Environments

Polymers ◽

10.3390/polym13132138 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (13) ◽

pp. 2138

Author(s):

Anna K. Zykova ◽

Petr V. Pantyukhov ◽

Elena E. Mastalygina ◽

Christian Chaverri-Ramos ◽

Svetlana G. Nikolaeva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Costa Rica ◽

Open Field ◽

Wood Flour ◽

Composite Films ◽

Size Fraction ◽

Soil Burial ◽

Laboratory Conditions ◽

Biocomposite Films ◽

Filler Particles ◽

Flax Straw

The purpose of this study was to assess the potential for biocomposite films to biodegrade in diverse climatic environments. Biocomposite films based on polyethylene and 30 wt.% of two lignocellulosic fillers (wood flour or flax straw) of different size fractions were prepared and studied. The developed composite films were characterized by satisfactory mechanical properties that allows the use of these materials for various applications. The biodegradability was evaluated in soil across three environments: laboratory conditions, an open field in Russia, and an open field in Costa Rica. All the samples lost weight and tensile strength during biodegradation tests, which was associated with the physicochemical degradation of both the natural filler and the polymer matrix. The spectral density of the band at 1463 cm−1 related to CH2-groups in polyethylene chains decreased in the process of soil burial, which is evidence of polymer chain breakage with formation of CH3 end groups. The degradation rate of most biocomposites after 20 months of the soil assays was greatest in Costa Rica (20.8–30.9%), followed by laboratory conditions (16.0–23.3%), and lowest in Russia (13.2–22.0%). The biocomposites with flax straw were more prone to biodegradation than those with wood flour, which can be explained by the chemical composition of fillers and the shape of filler particles. As the size fraction of filler particles increased, the biodegradation rate increased. Large particles had higher bioavailability than small spherical ones, encapsulated by a polymer. The prepared biocomposites have potential as an ecofriendly replacement for traditional polyolefins, especially in warmer climates.

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Synthesis, Characterization and Testing of Antimicrobial Activity of Composites of Unsaturated Polyester Resins with Wood Flour and Silver Nanoparticles

Materials ◽

10.3390/ma14051122 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (5) ◽

pp. 1122

Author(s):

Przemysław Pączkowski ◽

Andrzej Puszka ◽

Malgorzata Miazga-Karska ◽

Grażyna Ginalska ◽

Barbara Gawdzik

Keyword(s):

Silver Nanoparticles ◽

Staphylococcus Epidermidis ◽

Polyester Resin ◽

Wood Flour ◽

Unsaturated Polyester ◽

Thermomechanical Properties ◽

Resin Composites ◽

Polyester Resins ◽

Before And After

This paper presents the properties of the wood-resin composites. For improving their antibacterial character, silver nanoparticles were incorporated into their structures. The properties of the obtained materials were analyzed in vitro for their anti-biofilm potency in contact with aerobic Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis; and aerobic Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These pathogens are responsible for various infections, including those associated with healthcare. The effect of silver nanoparticles incorporation on mechanical and thermomechanical properties as well as gloss were investigated for the samples of composites before and after accelerating aging tests. The results show that bacteria can colonize in various wrinkles and cracks on the composites with wood flour but also the surface of the cross-linked unsaturated polyester resin. The addition of nanosilver causes the death of bacteria. It also positively influences mechanical and thermomechanical properties as well as gloss of the resin.

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Effect of wood particulate size on the mechanical properties of PLA biocomposite

Pigment & Resin Technology ◽

10.1108/prt-12-2019-0117 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 49 (6) ◽

pp. 465-472

Author(s):

S. Raj Sachin ◽

T. Kandasamy Kannan ◽

Rathanasamy Rajasekar

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Mechanical Characteristics ◽

Wood Flour ◽

Wood Particle ◽

Poly Lactic Acid ◽

Particle Sizes ◽

Content Type ◽

Particulate Size ◽

Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this study is to carry out an investigation of the role of the wood particle size on the mechanical properties of poly lactic acid (PLA)-reinforced neem fiber biocomposite. Design/methodology/approach Composite test specimens were processed by reinforcing neem wood flour (NWF) in two different particle sizes, micro-sized NWF (MNWF) and nano-sized NWF (NNWF) separately into PLA. Composites were extruded at four different fiber loadings (10, 15, 20 and 25 Wt.%) into PLA matrix. The MNWF and NNWF had particle sizes varying from 5 to 15 µm and 10 to 15 nm, respectively. Findings Tensile strength, flexural strength and impact strength of PLA increased with fiber reinforcement for both the MNWF and NNWF cases. The NNWF-reinforced PLA composite at 20 Wt.% fiber loading proved to be the best composite that had outstanding mechanical properties in this research. Practical implications The developed composite can be used as a substitute for conventional plywood for furniture, building infrastructure and interior components for the automobile, aircraft and railway sectors. Originality/value A new biocomposite had been fabricated by using PLA and NWF and had been tested for its mechanical characteristics.

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Silane Modified Wood Flour Blended with Poly(lactic acid) and its Effects on Composite Performance

BioResources ◽

10.15376/biores.10.3.5426-5439 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Shanshan Lv ◽

Haiyan Tan ◽

Jiyou Gu ◽

Yanhua Zhang

Keyword(s):

Lactic Acid ◽

Wood Flour ◽

Poly Lactic Acid ◽

Modified Wood

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Cure kinetics of aqueous phenol-formaldehyde resins used for oriented strandboard manufacturing: Effect of wood flour

Journal of Applied Polymer Science ◽

10.1002/app.24739 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 102 (4) ◽

pp. 3774-3781 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Yong Lei ◽

Qinglin Wu

Keyword(s):

Phenol Formaldehyde ◽

Wood Flour ◽

Cure Kinetics ◽

Oriented Strandboard ◽

Kinetics Of

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Biofilm on the polymer composites - qualitative and quantitative microbiological analysis

Journal of Environmental Health Science and Engineering ◽

10.1007/s40201-021-00634-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Dobrochna Ginter-Kramarczyk ◽

Izabela Kruszelnicka ◽

Michał Michałkiewicz ◽

Przemysław Muszyński ◽

Stanisław Zajchowski ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Polymer Composites ◽

Wood Flour ◽

Biological Membrane ◽

Polymeric Materials ◽

Active Surface ◽

Modern Technology ◽

Biofilm Reactor ◽

Active Surface Area ◽

Microbiological Analysis ◽

Wood Polymer

Abstract Background Modern technology, which has been getting more and more recognition in the world for the last several years, is the moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) technology. Currently, movable biofilters made of basic polymeric materials, polyethylene and polypropylene. Methods An innovative solution in the field, mainly because of the large active surface area for biological membrane can be wood polymer composites (WPC). In the research polypropylene (PP) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) was used as the matrix. Two types of commercial wood flour also, selected from conifers, were selected for the study: Lignocel C 120 with particle sizes in the range of 70 μm–150 μm and L9 with dimensions of 0.8–1.1 mm and wood chips, which are used on an industrial scale for the production of chipboards, were used as a filler. A quantitative and qualitative analysis of newly formed biofilms was performed. Results The study showed a direct effect of the filler and its particle size on the susceptibility to the formation of the biofilm of on the composites surface. Conclusions Polypropylene PPH 648 T and 40% wt. of L9 type wood flour was the most susceptible to biofilm formation. Pure polypropylene PPH 648 T was the least susceptible material.

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