Effect of chemical treatment of fibers on the mechanical properties of polyethylene-wood fiber composites

This research is aimed to know the effect of mixing time, mixing speed and curing temperature on morphological and mechanical properties of epoxy-albasia wood fiber composites. The method used in the manufacturing process was hand lay-up method. The fibers with 30 mesh and 25% volume fraction are mixed with epoxy for the time variations of 15 and 45 minutes by speed variation of 695 rpm, 773 rpm, and 853 rpm. In order to investigate the effects of curing temperature, the same mixture was blended manually for 20 minutes and cured with the temperature variation of 40, 50, 60, 70 and 800C. Experimental results show that mixing the fiber and matrix with the speed of 695 rpm for 15 minutes increases the tensile strength but slightly declines the impact strength. This phenomenon could be possibly caused by the longer the mixing time, the higher the amount of foreign particles entered into the mixture that could affect its properties. Both the tensile and impact tests show that the temperature of 80oC is the optimum curing temperature for epoxy-albasia wood fiber composites. Crack deﬂection presented by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) micrographs results in an increase in the crack propagation path and in the energy-dissipating events in the region immediately ahead of the crack tip.

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Deformation mechanisms and mechanical properties of modified polypropylene/wood fiber composites

Polymer Composites ◽

10.1002/pc.20045 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 25 (5) ◽

pp. 521-526 ◽

Cited By ~ 75

Author(s):

V. N. Hristov ◽

ST. Vasileva ◽

M. Krumova ◽

R. Lach ◽

G. H. Michler

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Wood Fiber ◽

Fiber Composites ◽

Deformation Mechanisms

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Quantifying effects of compositional variations on microstructural properties of polypropylene-wood fiber composites by melt rheology and tensile test data

Journal of Composite Materials ◽

10.1177/0021998318786792 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 53 (4) ◽

pp. 503-514 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ali Durmus ◽

Mehmet Ozcan ◽

Ismail Aydin

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Tensile Test ◽

Wood Fiber ◽

Micromechanical Model ◽

Viscoelastic Behavior ◽

Alkaline Treatment ◽

Fiber Composites ◽

Test Machine ◽

Wood Fibers ◽

Compositional Variations

In this study, melt-state rheological behavior and solid-state mechanical properties of polypropylene-wood fiber composites were investigated in detail depending on compositional variations such as (i) alkaline treatment on wood fibers, (ii) fiber size, (iii) wood fiber content, and (iv) compatibilizer/wood fiber ratio. Composite samples were prepared in a lab-scale co-rotating twin screw extruder by using a maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene as compatibilizer. Morphological features of composites were examined in a scanning electron microscopy. Viscoelastic behavior and mechanical properties of samples were analyzed by performing oscillatory tests in a rotational rheometer and a universal tensile test machine. It was found that the increasing amounts of wood fiber and compatibilizer/wood fiber ratio led to improve melt elasticity and tensile strength. It was concluded that the amount of compatibilizer into composite formulation was the most important compositional parameter compared to size and chemical treatment of wood fibers for improving the physical properties of composites. The Nicolais-Nicodemo micromechanical model showed that the increasing amount of compatibilizer yielded lower parameters which implied better interfacial adhesion between polypropylene and wood fibers.

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