Morphology, mechanical properties, and dimensional stability of wood particle/high density polyethylene composites: Effect of removal of wood cell wall composition

Rongxian Ou, Yanjun Xie, Michael P. Wolcott, Shujuan Sui, Qingwen Wang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

113 Scopus citations

Abstract

Variation in the chemical composition of wood cell walls has a significant influence on the properties of wood plastic composites (WPCs). This study investigated the effect of removal of hemicellulose and/or lignin on the mechanical properties and dimensional stability of WPCs. Four types of wood particles with various compositions including native wood flour (WF), hemicellulose-removed particle (HR), holocellulose (HC), and α-cellulose (αC) were prepared and compounded with high density polyethylene (HDPE) in an extruder, both with and without maleated polyethylene. Injection molding was used to make test specimens. The HR-based composites exhibited the best water resistance. The HC-based composites obtained a greater tensile modulus but a lower water resistance. The highest values for tensile strength, elongation at brake, toughness, and impact strength were achieved by the composites filled with αC.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)339-345
Number of pages7
JournalMaterials and Design
Volume58
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2014

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Materials Science
  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Mechanical Engineering

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