Effect of Coupling Agent Concentration, Fiber Content, and Size on Mechanical Properties of Wood/HDPE Composites

摘要

In this study, the influence of coupling agent concentration (0 and 3Â wt%), wood fiber content (50, 60, 70, and 80Â wt%), and size (40-60, 80-100, and 160-180 mesh) on the mechanical properties of wood/high-density-polyethylene (HDPE) composites (WPCs) was investigated. WPC samples were prepared with poplar wood-flour, HDPE, and polyethylene maleic anhydride copolymer (MAPE) as coupling agent. It was found that the tensile properties and the flexural properties of the composites were improved by the addition of 3Â wt% MAPE, and the improved interfacial adhesion was well confirmed by SEM micrographs. It was also observed that the best mechanical properties of wood/HDPE composites can be reached with larger particle size in the range studied, while too-small particle size was adverse for the mechanical properties of wood/HDPE composites. Moreover, the tensile modulus, tensile strength, and flexural strength of WPCs decreased with the increase in fiber content from 50 to 80Â wt%; the flexural modulus of WPCs increased with the increase in fiber content from 50 to 70Â wt% and then decreased as the fiber content reached 80Â wt%. The variances in property performance are helpful for the end-user to choose an appropriate coupling agent (MAPE) concentration, wood fiber content, and particle size based on performance needs and cost considerations.View full textDownload full textKeywordscomposites, coupling agent, HDPE, mechanical properties, wood flourRelated var addthis_config = { ui_cobrand: "Taylor & Francis Online", services_compact: "citeulike,netvibes,twitter,technorati,delicious,linkedin,facebook,stumbleupon,digg,google,more", pubid: "ra-4dff56cd6bb1830b" }; Add to shortlist Link Permalink http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00914037.2011.617338