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Effect of Different Reinforcing Fillers on Properties, Interfacial Compatibility and Weatherability of Wood-plastic Composites

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Abstract

Utilization of biochar in plastic based blends offers a sustainable way to renewable materials as well as value-added use of wood waste. To investigate the interfacial compatibility and weatherability properties of biochar composites, four types of Wood-Plastic Composites (WPC) were prepared by an extrusion process. The mechanical properties, water absorptions, thermal and viscoelastic properties, and rheological behavior of the composites were also evaluated. The decolorizing carbon (NA) composite melts showed the higher modulus and viscosity, indicating better melt strength. The NA composites performed the best in tensile properties (strength of 28.6 MPa and modulus of 3.4 GPa) and had strong interfacial interaction between particles and the matrix. The degree of HDPE crystallinity in the biochar and carbon composites decreased relative to Douglas-fir (DF) composites, while the thermal properties of the composites improved compared with DF composites. For the water resistance, the DF composites displayed the highest water absorption (3.7%) and thickness swell (2.9%). During accelerated weathering tests, longer exposure time increased the color change and lightness, especially for DF composite. NA and biochar composites resulted in improved photostability. This study opens up a pathway to utilize effectively the renewable biochar as reinforcing filler in WPC in outdoor applications.

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Acknowledgement

This work was supported by China Scholarship Council (No. 201706510025). Additionally, the authors acknowledge (1) Dr. Abdulbaset Alayat for his technical help and surface area measurement, (2) Maged Mohamed for technical help with the accelerated weathering tests, and (3) Farid Sotoudehniakarani for his technical help in the extractions. We also acknowledge the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust for their support in the purchase of the twin screw extruder and USDA-CSREES grant 2007-34158-17640 for support in the purchase of the DSC and DMA instruments.

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  1. MOE Key Laboratory of Wooden Material Science and Application, Beijing Forestry University, Qinghua East Road No.35, Beijing, 100083, China

    Xiaoqian Wang, Zhiming Yu & Armando G. McDonald

  2. Renewable Materials Program, Department of Forest, Rangeland, and Fire Sciences, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive MS 1133, Moscow, Idaho, 83844-1133, USA

    Xiaoqian Wang & Armando G. McDonald

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Correspondence to Armando G. McDonald.

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Wang, X., Yu, Z. & McDonald, A.G. Effect of Different Reinforcing Fillers on Properties, Interfacial Compatibility and Weatherability of Wood-plastic Composites. J Bionic Eng 16, 337–353 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42235-019-0029-0

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