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Mechanical reinforcement and creep resistance of coextruded wood flour/polyethylene composites by shell‐layer treatment with nano‐ and micro‐SiO 2 particles
Author(s) -
Hao Xiaolong,
Zhou Haiyang,
Xie Yanjun,
Xiao Zefang,
Wang Haigang,
Wang Qingwen
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
polymer composites
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.577
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1548-0569
pISSN - 0272-8397
DOI - 10.1002/pc.24901
Subject(s) - materials science , high density polyethylene , composite material , polyethylene , shell (structure) , creep , flexural strength
Nano‐ and micro‐SiO 2 particles (termed nSiO 2 and mSiO 2 , respectively) were incorporated in the shell layer of a coextruded wood flour/high density polyethylene composite (WF/HDPE) to improve the mechanical properties and inhibit creep behavior. The effects of loading content, particle size, and surface treatment of the silica with vinyl trimethoxy silane (VTS) were investigated on the properties of the resulting coextruded WF/HDPE composites. Scanning electron microscopy revealed proper interfacial adhesion between the core and shell layers. nSiO 2 exhibited higher reinforcement efficacy than that of mSiO 2 for the shell‐layer materials. Incorporation of the VTS‐treated nSiO 2 caused an increase in flexural‐ and impact strength of the coextruded composites by 29% and 57%, compared to the non‐silica filled coextruded WF/HDPE controls, respectively. Incorporation of nSiO 2 , either untreated or VTS‐treated, enhanced creep resistance of shell layer materials; however, only VTS‐nSiO 2 worked for the coextruded composites. These findings demonstrate that filling with silica, particularly VTS‐treated nSiO 2 , in the shell layer substantially and economically reinforces coextruded shell/core‐structured WF/HDPE composites. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:1576–1584, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers