Skip to main content
Journal of Wood Science

Official Journal of the Japan Wood Research Society

Download PDF
  • Original Article
  • Published:

Fundamental studies on wood/cellulose-plastic composites: effects of composition and cellulose dimension on the properties of cellulose/PP composite

Journal of Wood Science volume 53, pages 470–480 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Although wood/cellulose-plastic composites (WPC) of low wood/cellulose content have been more accepted worldwide and are promoted as low-maintenance, high-durability building products, composites containing high wood/cellulose content are not yet developed on an industrial scale. In this study, flow properties, mechanical properties, and water absorption properties of the compounds of cellulose microfiber/polypropylene (PP) and maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene (MAPP) were investigated to understand effects of the high cellulose content and the dimensions of the cellulose microfiber. The molding processes studied included compression, injection, and extrusion. It was found that fluidity is not only dependent on resin content but also on the dimension of the filler; fluidity of the compound declined with increased fiber length with the same resin content. Dispersion of the composite was monitored by charge-coupled device (CCD) microscope. Increasing the plastic content in the cellulose-plastic formulation improved the strength of mold in addition to the bond development between resin and filler, and the tangle of fibers. The processing mode affected the physicomechanical properties of the cellulosic plastic. Compression-molded samples exhibited the lowest modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE) and the highest water absorption, while samples that were injection-molded exhibited the highest MOR (70 MPa) and MOE (7 GPa) and low water absorption (2%).

References

  1. Stark NM, Matuana LM (2004) Surface chemistry and mechanical property changes of wood-flour/high-density-polyethylene composites after accelerated weathering. J Appl Polym Sci 94:2263–2273

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Heydy M (1998) Ecological considerations on the use and production of biosynthetic and synthetic biodegradable polymers. Polym Degrad Stab 59:3–6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Espert A, Camacho W, Karlson S (2003) Thermal and thermomechanical properties of biocomposites made from modified recycled cellulose and recycled polypropylene. J Appl Polym Sci 89:2353–2360

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Li TQ, Wolcott MP (2005) Rheology of wood plastics melt. Part 1. Capillary rheometry of HDPE filled with maple. Polym Eng Sci 45:549–559

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Li TQ, Ng CN, Li RKY (2001) Impact behavior of sawdust/ recycled-PP composites. J Appl Polym Sci 81:1420–1428

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Takatani M, Ikemiya A, Nagata Y, Kitayama T, Okamoto (2005) Properties of wood flour/thermoplastic polymer composites of high wood content. J Adhes Soc Jpn 41:301–305

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. La Mantia FP, Morreale M, Mohd Ishak ZA (2005) Processing and mechanical properties of organic filler-polypropylene composites. J Appl Polym Sci 96:1906–1913

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Qiu W, Zhang F, Endo T, Hirotsu T (2004) Milling-induced esterification between cellulose and maleated polypropylene. J Appl Polym Sci 91:1703–1709

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Qiu W, Endo T, Hirotsu T (2004) Interfacial interactions of a novel mechanochemical composite of cellulose with maleated polypropylene. J Appl Polym Sci 94:1326–1335

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Arbelaiz A, Cantero G, Fernández B, Mondragon I, Gañán P, Kenny JM (2005) Flax fiber surface modifications: effects on fiber physico mechanical and flax/polypropylene interface properties. Polym Compos 26:324–332

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Oraby W, Hopfenberg HB, Stannett V (2003) Radiation grafting of vinyl monomers onto wood pulp cellulose. Part I. J Appl Polym Sci 15:2987–2998

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Li TQ, Wolcott MP (2004) Rheology of HDPE-wood composites. I. Steady state shear and extensional flow. Compos Part A Appl Sci Manufact 35:303–311

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Li TQ, Wolcott MP (2006) Rheology of wood plastics melt, part 2: effects of lubricating systems in HDPE/maple composites. Polymer Eng Sci 46:464–473

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Li TQ, Wolcott MP (2006) Rheology of wood plastics melt, part 3: nonlinear nature of the flow. Polym Eng Sci 46:114–121

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Joseph PV, Oommen Z, Joseph K, Thomas S (2002) Melt rheological behaviour of short sisal fibre reinforced polypropylene composites. J Thermoplast Compos Mater 15:89–114

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Caraschi JC, Leão AL (2002) Wood flour as reinforcement of polypropylene. Mater Res 5:405–409

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Brandrup J, Immergut EH, Grulke EA, Abe A, Bloch DR (1999) Polymer handbook, 4th edn. Wiley, New York, p II/475

    Google Scholar 

  18. Geimer RL, Clemons CM, Wood JE (1993) Density range of compression-molded polypropylene-wood composites. Wood Fiber Sci 25:163–169

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Huang J, Zhang L, Wang X (2003) Soy protein-lignosulphonate plastics strengthened with cellulose. J Appl Polym Sci 89:1685–1689

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Bioscience, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kinki University, Nakamachi, Nara, 631-8505, Japan

    Rashmi Kumari, Masahiro Takatani, Miho Uchiyama & Tadashi Okamoto

  2. Material Developing Section, Product Developing Department, Yamaha Livingtec Corporation, Hamamatsu, 432-4001, Japan

    Hirokazu Ito

Authors
  1. Rashmi Kumari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hirokazu Ito
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Masahiro Takatani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Miho Uchiyama
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Tadashi Okamoto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tadashi Okamoto.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kumari, R., Ito, H., Takatani, M. et al. Fundamental studies on wood/cellulose-plastic composites: effects of composition and cellulose dimension on the properties of cellulose/PP composite. J Wood Sci 53, 470–480 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10086-007-0889-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10086-007-0889-5

Key words