The Effects of Lignocellulosic Fillers on Mechanical, Morphological and Thermal Properties of Wood Polymer Composites

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate some of the physical, mechanical, thermal and morphological
\nproperties of wood fl our and cellulose fi ber fi lled polypropylene composites. Polypropylene as a polymer
\nmatrix and wood fl our and cellulose fi bers were used as reinforcing fi llers to prepare the composites by using a
\nsingle screw extruder. Physical properties such as density, mechanical properties such as fl exure strength and
\nfl exure modulus, tensile strength and tensile modulus, and impact strength, thermal behavior with thermogravimetric
\nanalysis (TGA/DTA), and morphological characterization with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of
\nthe composites were determined. The density of the composites was found to increase with the addition of fi llers.
\nThe mechanical properties of the composites showed that the fl exure and tensile strength for the composites with
\nwood fl our was higher than the composites with cellulose fi bers, whereas fl exure and tensile modulus, and impact
\nstrength for the composites with cellulose fi bers was found to have higher values as compared to the composites
\nwith wood fl our. SEM pictures showed that particles and fi bers dispersed to different locations in polypropylene
\nmatrix. According to the TGA results, thermal degradation of all the composites was found to be lower compared
\nto neat polymer.