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Title
Mechanical properties and water uptake of nanoclay/wood flour/LDPE composites after fiber surface mercerization
Authors
OMID NOZARI MOSTAFAH MADANIPOUR MOHAMMAD FARSI and ASGHAR TABEI
Received
July 12, 2012
Published
Volume 47 Issue 3-4 March-April
Keywords
wood plastic composite, nanoclay, chemical treatment, engineering properties
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of nanoclay and alkali treatment of wood flour on the engineering
properties of the wood plastic composite made from low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and beech flour. Thus, to
conduct the study, the wood flour was chemically treated with 2% alkaline and then was mixed with LDPE at 40%
weight ratio. To improve the properties of the composites, nanoclay particles (Cloisite 15 A) with the weight
percentage of 0, 3 and 6% were selected for the study. In all samples, maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene (MAPE)
was used in a weight proportion of 3%. The materials were mixed in an internal mixer (HAAKE) and then the samples
were made using an injecting molding instrument. The physical properties, such as water absorption, and mechanical
properties, such as tensile and impact strength, were measured. The physical testing results showed that by increasing
the nanoclay content and alkaline treatment application, the water absorption rate was reduced. The tensile strength
improved by increasing the nanoclay content, as well as using the chemical treatments. Also, the impact strength
witnessed a 3% increase by increasing the nanoclay content and then reduced. The overall results suggest that the
chemical treatments will increase the impact strength.
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