Effect of an antioxidant on the life cycle of wood flour/polypropylene composites

摘要

This study assessed the life cycle of biocomposites with antioxidants by repeated processing.The effects of antioxidants on the life cycle of wood flour/polypropylene(PP)composites were determined by analyzing their mechanical and thermal properties.The composites were repeatedly processed for seven times with pelletizing and extruding.An antioxidant,pentaerythritoltetrakys 3-(3,5-ditert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate,was used.The mechanical strength of the biocomposites decreased after reprocessing.Fourier transformed infrared analysis showed that thermo-oxidative aging occurred during reprocessing.The thermal performance of the resulting composites decreased because of reprocessing.Wood flour/PP has a long lifetime and antioxidants can slow the thermo-oxidative and mechanical degradation during reprocessing.