Investigations of surface micro topologies and crystalline behaviour of hybrid wood composites

The aim of present work is to evaluate the surface micro topologies and crystalline behaviour of hybrid wood composites which is prepared by hand lay-up method using pinus and shorea robusta wood particulates as reinforcement materials and epoxy resin as a matrix material. The surface micro topologies and crystalline behaviour of the prepared hybrid wood composites are examined by optical non-destructive test and x-ray diffraction respectively. The surface micro-topological parameters such as average roughness ( R a ), maximum peak-to-valley height ( R t ) and mean peak-to-valley height ( R z ) are recorded by the optical profilometer. The crystallinity of hybrid composite is measured in diffractograms recorded by the x-ray Diffractometer. The surface roughness of shorea robusta wood particulates composite decreases by 31.7% with the addition of equal amount of pinus wood particulates; shows a positive effect of hybridization of these two wood particulates. Moreover, a positive effect of hybridization is also observed in crystalline behaviour as hybrid wood composites exhibited the better crystallinity as compared to single wood composites.