Processing Effects on Mechanical Properties and Creep Behaviors of Wood-Microbial Polyester Composites

摘要

U.S. market of wood plastic composites (WPCs) has been forecasted to have an a rapid growing rate. Petroleum-based polyolefin, i.e. polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), is primarily used to produce WPCs. WPCs are widely used in non-structural construction applications, i.e. outdoor decks and window frame. However, fossil oil cannot be sustainably produced, on the research and development of renewable and sustainable plastics is now an urgent issue while fossil oil is depleting. A microbial polyester, polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), can be generated via bio-reaction of microbe or bacteria. These bacteria convert carbohydrate components from agriculture resource to PHB as metabolism process, and then store PHB as their energy source. PHB is commonly been compared with PP due to their similar chemical structure and mechanical properties. As the reason, many of research studies have been investigated properties of natural fiber reinforced PHB composites.