Electron-Beam Curable Additives for Wood-Plastic Composites

摘要

Efficacy of metal acrylates and methacrylates as coupling agents for polyethylene (PE)-based wood composites was investigated. Acrylates and methacrylates improve the resin-wood adhesive bond. It is thought that acrylates and methacrylates can be used to take advantage of unsaturated bonds in PE as crosslinking sites. Composites consisting of 60 percent maple (Acer saccharum) wood flour, 35 to 40 percent low-density polyethylene, and 0 to 5 percent radiation-curable metal acrylate and methacrylates were extruded and subjected to 80 kGy of high-energy electron beam radiation. Although the bending moduli of the samples were not significantly affected, the combination of the acrylate additives and radiation treatment improved strength and toughness over controls. In addition, the composites demonstrated improved moisture performance with exposure to electron-beam radiation.