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Wood‐thermoplastic composites manufactured using beetle‐killed spruce from Alaska
Author(s) -
Yadama Vikram,
Lowell Eini C.,
Peterson Nels,
Nicholls David
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.21231
Subject(s) - wood flour , wood plastic composite , materials science , composite material , engineered wood , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , thermoplastic , composite number , thermoplastic composites , depolymerization , lignin , pulp and paper industry , botany , polymer chemistry , chemical engineering , biology , engineering
The primary objectives of the study were to characterize the critical properties of wood flour produced using highly deteriorated beetle‐killed spruce for wood‐plastic composite (WPC) production and evaluate important mechanical and physical properties of WPC extruded using an industry standard formulation. Chemical composition analysis indicated no significant differences in wood constituents between highly deteriorated and sound wood. Preliminary investigation with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), however, indicated partial degradation or depolymerization of carbohydrate components in highly deteriorated wood compared to sound wood from green trees; effects of these changes could be seen in cell collapse and poor interaction between thermoplastic matrix and deteriorated wood fiber. Physical and mechanical properties of extruded WPCs manufactured from highly deteriorated material were comparable to WPC properties produced using pine wood flour that served as a control material. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2009. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers