Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of polymeric matrix on properties of wood–plastic composites with rubberwood flour as filler

  • Original Research
  • Published:
Iranian Polymer Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This work was carried out on the influence of plastic matrix on the physical properties of wood–plastic composites (WPCs). The WPCs were prepared with five types of plastic as the matrix, namely high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polystyrene (PS). The results indicated that the density of WPCs linearly decreased with the increasing plastic content. WPCs with PVC provided a maximum density (1.231 g/cm3) whereas WPCs with PP provided a minimum (0.913 g/cm3) density exceeding 0.8 g/cm3. The long-term water absorption (WA) and soluble weight loss were consistently high for WPCs made with LDPE with values of 35.37% and 4.29%, respectively. On the other hand, PVC and PP gave slightly lower long-term WA (8.20%) and soluble weight loss (0.36%), respectively indicating PVC and PP were better resistant to moisture. Based on the findings in this study it revealed that the plastic type and wood content significantly affected all properties of the prepared composites in this work. The hardness test results showed that PS and LDPE gave the highest (81.64 HD) and lowest (52.29 HD) hardness values of the WPCs. In addition, the hardness decreased with increasing wood content of WPCs. The WPCs produced in this work were high-density boards that may be beneficial, particularly for structural applications.

Graphical abstract

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

Data will be made available on request.

References

  1. Homkhiew C, Srivabut C, Rawangwong S, Boonchouytan W (2022) Performance of wood-plastic composites manufactured from post-consumer plastics and wood waste under coastal weathering in Thailand. Fibers Polym 23:2679–2693

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Essabir H, Boujmal R, Bensalah MO, Rodrigue D, Bouhfid R, Qaiss AEK (2016) Mechanical and thermal properties of hybrid composites: oil-palm fiber/clay reinforced high density polyethylene. Mech Mater 98:36–43

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Elamin MAM, Li SX, Osman ZA, Otitoju TA (2020) Preparation and characterization of wood-plastic composite by utilizing a hybrid compatibilizer system. Ind Crops Prod 154:112659

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Nasalapure AV, Chalannavar RK, Kasai DR, Reddy KR, Raghu AV (2021) Novel polymeric hydrogel composites: synthesis, physicochemical, mechanical and biocompatible properties. Nano Ex 2:030003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Zhang Y, Chen Z, Du K, Bi Y, Su J, Zhang Y, Shen Y, Zhang S (2023) Functional natural wood-plastic composites: a review of antimicrobial properties and their influencing factors. Ind Crops Prod 201:116705

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Zighed M, Benotmane B (2022) Performance of high-density polyethylene–starch–linen fiber biocomposite. Iran Polym J 31:751–760

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Khamtree S, Ratanawilai T, Ratanawilai S (2020) The effect of alkaline–silane treatment of rubberwood flour for water absorption and mechanical properties of plastic composites. J Thermoplast Compos Mater 33:599–613

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Bunekar N, Tsai TY (2022). In: Mishra AK, Hussain CM (eds) Bio-based Nanomaterials: synthesis protocols, mechanisms and applications. Elsevier, Amsterdam, Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

  9. Khamtree S, Ratanawilai T, Ratanawilai S (2020) Determining the optimum conditions for silane treated rubberwood flour-recycled polypropylene composites using response surface methodology. Mater Today Commun 24:100971

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Lu W, Yu W, Zhang B, Dou X, Han X, Cai H (2021) Kevlar fibers reinforced straw wastes-polyethylene composites: combining toughness, strength and self-extinguishing capabilities. Compos Part B Eng 223:109117

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Adeniyi AG, Onifade DV, Ighalo JO, Adeoye AS (2019) A review of coir fiber reinforced polymer composites. Compos Part B Eng 176:107305

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Liu Y, Lv X, Bao J, Xie J, Tang X, Che J, Ma Y, Tong J (2019) Characterization of silane treated and untreated natural cellulosic fibre from corn stalk waste as potential reinforcement in polymer composites. Carbohydr polym 218:179–187

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Kumar A, Jyske T, Petrič M (2021) Delignified wood from understanding the hierarchically aligned cellulosic structures to creating novel functional materials: a review. Adv Sustain Syst 5:2000251

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Srubar WV III (2015) An analytical model for predicting the freeze–thaw durability of wood–fiber composites. Compos Part B Eng 69:435–442

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Bambach MR (2020) Durability of natural fibre epoxy composite structural columns: high cycle compression fatigue and moisture ingress. Compos C 2:100013

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Mrad H, Alix S, Migneault S, Koubaa A, Perré P (2018) Numerical and experimental assessment of water absorption of wood-polymer composites. Measurement 115:197–203

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Lafia-Araga RA, Hassan A, Yahya R, Rahman NA, Salleh FM (2019) Water absorption behavior of heat-treated and untreated red balau saw dust/LDPE composites: its kinetics and effects on mechanical properties. J Thermoplast Compos Mater 32:1408–1426

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Prabhu R, Roopashree B, Jeevananda T, Rao S, Reddy KR, Raghu AV (2021) Synthesis and corrosion resistance properties of novel conjugated polymer-Cu2Cl4L3 composites. Mater Sci Energy Technol 4:92–99

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Chotikhun A, Kittijaruwattana J, Arsyad WOM, Salca EA, Hadi YS, Hiziroglu S (2022) Some properties of wood plastic composites made from rubberwood, recycled plastic and silica. Forests 13:427

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Saxena M, Gupta MK (2019) Mechanical, thermal, and water absorption properties of hybrid wood composites. J Mater Des Appl 233:1914–1922

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Matseevich T, Matseevich A, Askadskii A (2019) Water absorption of wood-polymer composites of savewood. E3S Web Conf 97:02043

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Ratanawilai T, Taneerat K (2018) Alternative polymeric matrices for wood-plastic composites: effects on mechanical properties and resistance to natural weathering. Constr Build Mater 172:349–357

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Souissi S, Lachtar F, Elloumi A, Bergeret A (2022) Properties of wood polymer composites based on polypropylene/olive wood flour: effects of fiber treatment and compatibilizer. Iran Polym J 31:1511–1521

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Das G, Biswas S (2016) Physical, mechanical and water absorption behaviour of coir fiber reinforced epoxy composites filled with Al2O3 particulates. IOP Conf Ser Mater Sci Eng 115:012012

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Borysiuk P, Auriga R, Kośka P (2019) Influence of the filler on the density profile of wood polymer composites. Ann Wars Univ Life Sci -SGGW 106:31–37

    Google Scholar 

  26. Pokhrel G, Gardner DJ, Han Y (2021) Properties of wood–plastic composites manufactured from two different wood feedstocks: wood flour and wood pellets. Polymers 13:2769

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  27. Durmaz S (2022) Effect of wood flour content on the properties of flat pressed wood plastic composites. Wood Res 67:302–310

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Coelho KVS, Líbano EVDG, Filho FGR, Santos SF, Pereira PSC, Bastos DC (2021) Development of wood plastic composite with reduced water absorption. Int J Dev Res 11:44547–44551

    Google Scholar 

  29. Priadi T, Sholihah M, Karlinasari L (2019) Water absorption and dimensional stability of heat-treated fast-growing hardwoods. J Korean Wood Sci Technol 47:567–578

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Mohammed M, Jawad AJM, Mohammed AM, Oleiwi JK, Adam T, Osman AF, Dahham OS, Betar BO, Gopinath SCB, Jaafar M (2023) Challenges and advancement in water absorption of natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites. Polym Test 124:108083

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. López YM, Paes JB, Rodríguez EM, Gustave D, Gonçalves FG (2018) Wood particleboards reinforced with thermoplastics to improve thickness swelling and mechanical properties. Cerne 24:369–378. https://doi.org/10.1590/01047760201824042582

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Homkhiew C, Rawangwong S, Boonchouytan W, Thongruang W, Ratanawilai T (2018) Composites from thermoplastic natural rubber reinforced rubberwood sawdust: effects of sawdust size and content on thermal, physical, and mechanical properties. Int J Polym Sci 2018:7179527

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Ouyang L, Huang Y, Cao J (2014) Hygroscopicity and characterization of wood fibers modified by alkoxysilanes with different chain lengths. BioResources 9:7222–7233

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Yang S, Wei B, Wang Q (2020) Superior dispersion led excellent performance of wood-plastic composites via solid-state shear milling process. Compos Part B Eng 200:108347

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Khan MZR, Srivastava SK, Gupta MK (2019) Water absorption and its effect on mechanical properties of hybrid wood particulates composites. Mater Res Express 6:105305

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Xiao L, Zheng Z, Irgum K, Andersson PL (2020) Studies of emission processes of polymer additives into water using quartz crystal microbalance-a case study on organophosphate esters. Environ Sci Technol 54:4876–4885

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  37. Sanjeevi S, Shanmugam V, Kumar S, Ganesan V, Sas G, Johnson DJ, Shanmugam M, Ayyanar A, Naresh K, Esmaeely Neisiany R, Das O (2021) Effects of water absorption on the mechanical properties of hybrid natural fibre/phenol formaldehyde composites. Sci Rep 11:13385

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  38. Sahu P, Gupta MK (2022) Water absorption behavior of cellulosic fibres polymer composites: a review on its effects and remedies. J Ind Text 51:7480S-7512S

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Kongkaew T, Kumneadklang S, Panichpakdee J, Larpkiattaworn S (2020) Effects of coconut coir powders on the properties of natural rubber composites. Int J Sci Innov Technol 3:53–60

    Google Scholar 

  40. Walte AB, Bhole K, Gholave J (2020) Mechanical characterization of coir fiber reinforced composite. Mater Today Proc 24:557–566

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Hameed AJ, Prasanth S, Suseela T (2017) Hardness and flexural strength of rice husk and rice husk ash on coconut fiber reinforced polyester composites. Int J Emerg Technol Eng Res 5:310–313

    Google Scholar 

  42. Musanif I, Dosoputranto E (2018) Effect of fiber length against hardness and composite impact coconut fiber-polyester resin. Int Res J Eng Technol 5:1178–1181

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express their thanks to the Prince of Songkla Graduate Studies Grant and Rubberwood Technology and Management Research Group (ENG-54-27-11-0137-S) of the Faculty of Engineering, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand, for financial support throughout this work. We would also like to thank the Research and Development Office and Assoc. Prof. S. Karrila for editing this article.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Smart Industry Research Centre, Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand

    Thanate Ratanawilai

  2. Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand

    Thanate Ratanawilai & Kampanart Taneerat

  3. Department of Industrial Technology, Faculty of Industrial Technology, Songkhla Rajabhat University, Songkhla, Thailand

    Sriwan Khamtree

Authors
  1. Thanate Ratanawilai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kampanart Taneerat
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Sriwan Khamtree
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thanate Ratanawilai.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ratanawilai, T., Taneerat, K. & Khamtree, S. Effects of polymeric matrix on properties of wood–plastic composites with rubberwood flour as filler. Iran Polym J 33, 131–140 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13726-023-01242-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13726-023-01242-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation