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Application of micromechanical models to tensile properties of wood–plastic composites

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Abstract

Wood–plastic composites (WPC) were produced with white birch pulp fibers of different aspect ratios (length-to-diameter), high-density polyethylene, and using two common processes: extrusion or injection molding. Three additive levels were also used: no additive, compatibility agent, and process lubricant. Fiber size was measured with an optical fiber quality analyzer. Tensile properties of WPC were measured and modeled as a function of fiber aspect ratio. Models were fitted to experimental values using the minimum sum of squared error method. A shift from the oriented fiber case (injection molding) to the randomly oriented fiber case (extrusion) was achieved using a fiber orientation factor. Fiber/matrix stress transfer increased with increasing fiber aspect ratio. Stress transfer was reduced with the use of process lubricant. Unexpectedly, the compatibility agent had the same effect. Fiber strength and stiffness contributions to the composite were lower than those of intrinsic fiber properties.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the Canada Research Chair Program, the Ministère du développement économique et de l’innovation et de l’Exportation (MDEIE) du Québec, NSERC, Caisse Populaire Desjardins, Tembec, and the UQAT Foundation for financial support. The authors wish to thank Professor Michael Wolcott and Dr. Karl Englund from Washington State University for granting access to the Wood Engineering Material Laboratory and for their collaboration on this project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre de recherche sur le bois, Université Laval, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada

    Sébastien Migneault

  2. Université du Québec en Abitibi–Témiscamingue, 445 boul. de l’Université, Rouyn–Noranda, QC, J9X 5E4, Canada

    Ahmed Koubaa & Fouad Erchiqui

  3. Service de recherche et d’expertise en transformation des produits forestiers, 25 rue Armand–Sinclair, Amqui, QC, G5J 1K3, Canada

    Abdelkader Chaala

  4. Wood Materials and Engineering Laboratory, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164–1806, USA

    Karl Englund & Michael P. Wolcott

Authors
  1. Sébastien Migneault
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  2. Ahmed Koubaa
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  3. Fouad Erchiqui
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  4. Abdelkader Chaala
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  5. Karl Englund
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  6. Michael P. Wolcott
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Correspondence to Ahmed Koubaa.

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Migneault, S., Koubaa, A., Erchiqui, F. et al. Application of micromechanical models to tensile properties of wood–plastic composites. Wood Sci Technol 45, 521–532 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00226-010-0351-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00226-010-0351-5

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