Mechanical and water kinetic parameters of water-absorbed hard wood dust/high-density polyethylene composites
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Mechanical and water kinetic parameters of water‑absorbed hard wood dust/high‑density polyethylene composites Ganiyat Olusola Adebayo1,2 Received: 1 April 2020 / Revised: 9 November 2020 / Accepted: 17 November 2020 © Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract The mechanical (flexural, tensile and impact) properties and water kinetic parameters of water-absorbed hard wood (mangrove) reinforced high-density polyethylene composites were evaluated as untreated and treated mangrove dust (MD). Samples were prepared by mixing high-density polyethylene (HDPE) with MD at 10, 20 and 30% by weight in a twin-screw laboratory compounder and injection moulded into dumb-bell and rectangular-shaped test specimens for flexural, tensile and impact tests. Samples were soaked in distilled water for 1440 h at room temperature and a relative humidity of ~ 65%. The flexural strength and modulus indicated that treated composites exhibited lower decrease in values than their untreated counterparts at water equilibrium points. The dry composites maintained higher values of tensile properties, notwithstanding the treatment. Scanning electron microscopy of impact fractured surfaces showed evidence of improved MD-HDPE interfacial adhesion of treated composites in both dry and water-absorbed conditions. The water kinetics parameters such as the diffusion, sorption and permeability coefficients further show that dry composites are more water-resistant than the wet composites. Overall, the treated composites at dry and moisture-saturated conditions indicated better mechanical and moisture stability than the untreated MD/HDPE composites. Keywords Impact · Flexural strength · Peak load · Fractured surface · Sorption coefficient · Permeability
* Ganiyat Olusola Adebayo [email protected] 1
Polymer and Composite Materials Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2
Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Operational Headquarters, Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria
13
Vol.:(0123456789)
Polymer Bulletin
Introduction One of the most promising sectors in the field of both composite and plastic industries is wood plastic composite (WPC). This is due to the variety of advantages of wood fibres, which include low specific gravity, low cost, abundance, renewability and low abrasiveness, unlike the mineral fillers [1]. However, moisture resistance is a crucial characteristic of structural composites as they may be exposed to rain and humid environment. Also, the tendency to absorb moisture and the diffusion of water into the material as well as the performance of the composites are important parameters. The performance evaluation of WPCs determines their suitability for applications in outdoor environment. The absorption of water by WPC can cause the incorporated wood to swell, leading to a reduction of the interfacial strength, followed by a decrease in the composite strength [2]. Generally, moisture absorption in WPCs is governed by the hygroscopic na
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