Assessment of long-term water absorption in natural fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites influenced by filler rate and compatibilizer treatment

作者：Kord Behzad^*

来源：Journal of Thermoplastic Composite Materials, 2013, 26(3): 296-306.

DOI：10.1177/0892705711423289

• long-term water absorption
• natural fiber
• composites
• isotherms
• Fickian diffusion

The scope of the present article is to study the effect of reinforcing filler loading and coupling agent treatment on long-term water uptake of wood plastic composites. Polypropylene and wood flour were compounded into hake internal mixer and the test specimens were prepared by injection molding. Three different contents of wood flour as 40%, 50% and 60% were considered, and the concentration was varied from 0 to 4% for coupling agent. The long-term water absorptions of samples were evaluated by immersing them in water at room temperature for several weeks, and water diffusion coefficients were also calculated by evaluating the water absorption isotherms. The results showed that the water absorption in the samples increased with immersion time, reaching a certain value at saturation point and the composites water content remained constant. Also, the water absorption of the composites increased with increasing wood flour loading. The coupling agents had a positive effect on the water absorption of these composites. Water absorption of all formulations approached the Fickian diffusion case.

• 出版日期2013-4