Mechanical properties and foaming behavior of cellulose fiber reinforced high‐density polyethylene composites

This article investigates the effects of fiber length and maleated polymers on the mechanical properties and foaming behavior of cellulose fiber reinforced high-density polyethylene composites. The results from the mechanical tests suggested that long fibers provided higher flexural and impact properties than short fibers. In addition, the maleated high-density polyethylene increased flexural strength significantly, while the maleated thermoplastic elastormers increased notched Izod impact strength dramatically. On the other hand, the results from the extrusion foaming indicated that the composites with long and short fibers demonstrated similar cell morphology, i.e., a similar average cell size and cell size distribution. However, the addition of maleated high-density polyethylene caused an increase of the average cell size and cell size distribution in the composites. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2009. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers

[1]  Chul B. Park,et al.  Influence of wood fiber size on extrusion foaming of wood fiber/HDPE composites , 2008 .

[2]  Chul B. Park,et al.  Effects of styrene–ethylene–butylene–styrene based additives on the mechanical properties of rice hull/polypropylene composites , 2007 .

[3]  D. Rodrigue,et al.  Effect of wood powder on polymer foam nucleation , 2006 .

[4]  B. Riedl,et al.  Preparation and morphology of polypropylene/wood flour composite foams via extrusion , 2005 .

[5]  G. Rizvi,et al.  Critical Issues in Extrusion Foaming of Plastic/Woodfiber Composites , 2005 .

[6]  Mohini Sain,et al.  Interface Modification and Mechanical Properties of Natural Fiber-Polyolefin Composite Products , 2005 .

[7]  Chul B. Park,et al.  Development of an extrusion system for producing fine‐celled HDPE/wood‐fiber composite foams using CO2 as a blowing agent , 2004 .

[8]  Chul B. Park,et al.  Critical processing temperature in the manufacture of fine‐celled plastic/wood‐fiber composite foams , 2004 .

[9]  Chul B. Park,et al.  Expansion mechanisms of plastic/wood-flour composite foams with moisture, dissolved gaseous volatiles, and undissolved gas bubbles , 2003 .

[10]  L. Matuana,et al.  Foam extrusion of high density polyethylene/wood-flour composites using chemical foaming agents , 2003 .

[11]  Y. Wang,et al.  Effectiveness of functionalized polyolefins as compatibilizers for polyethylene/wood flour composites , 2003 .

[12]  G. Rizvi,et al.  A Novel System Design for Continuous Processing of Plastic/Wood-Fiber Composite Foams with Improved Cell Morphology , 2002 .

[13]  T. Hirotsu,et al.  Preparation and mechanical properties of composite of fibrous cellulose and maleated polyethylene , 2002 .

[14]  Chul B. Park,et al.  Foaming of PS/wood fiber composites using moisture as a blowing agent , 2000 .

[15]  Y. Mai,et al.  Effect of fiber pretreatment condition on the interfacial strength and mechanical properties of wood fiber/PP composites , 2000 .

[16]  Sumarno,et al.  Solubilities and diffusion coefficients of carbon dioxide and nitrogen in polypropylene, high-density polyethylene, and polystyrene under high pressures and temperatures , 1999 .

[17]  Chul B. Park,et al.  Cell morphology and property relationships of microcellular foamed pvc/wood‐fiber composites , 1998 .

[18]  K. Oksman,et al.  The nature and location of SEBS-MA compatibilizer in polyethylene-wood flour composites , 1998 .

[19]  K. Oksman,et al.  Influence of thermoplastic elastomers on adhesion in polyethylene–wood flour composites , 1998 .

[20]  K. Oksman,et al.  Mechanical properties and morphology of impact modified polypropylene-wood flour composites , 1998 .

[21]  J. Balatinecz,et al.  Effect of Ester Linkages on the Mechanical Properties of Wood Fiber-Polypropylene Composites , 1997 .

[22]  Chul B. Park,et al.  Processing and cell morphology relationships for microcellular foamed PVC/wood-fiber composites , 1997 .

[23]  S. Im,et al.  The preparation and characteristics of low‐density polyethylene composites containing cellulose treated with cellulase , 1997 .

[24]  J. Balatinecz,et al.  Characterization of Microcellular Foamed PVC/Cellulosic-Fibre Composites , 1996 .

[25]  P. Gatenholm,et al.  Controlled interactions in cellulose‐polymer composites. 1: Effect on mechanical properties , 1993 .

[26]  Paul Gatenholm,et al.  The nature of adhesion in composites of modified cellulose fibers and polypropylene , 1991 .

[27]  P. Bataille,et al.  Effects of cellulose fibers in polypropylene composites , 1989 .