Investigating the mechanical properties of the composite made of polypropylene and Conocarpus wood flour

Subject Areas : یافته های نوین کاربردی و محاسباتی در سیستم های مکانیکی

Amir Mohammadinia ¹ , parizad sheikhi ²

1 - 1. Master of Science student, Department of Mechanic Engineering, Dezful Branch, Islamic Azad University, Dezful, Iran
2 - Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanic Engineering, Dezful Branch, Islamic Azad University, Dezful, Iran

Received: 2024-04-22 Accepted : 2024-06-22 Published : 2024-06-26

Keywords: Wood-plastic composite, Conocarpus wood, Polypropylene, Mechanical properties,

Abstract :

The current research, the possibility of making composite from Conocarpus wood flour-based polypropylene was investigated. Conocarpus erectus is an imported species that has been cultivated in the southern provinces of the country like Khuzestan province, and as a lignocellulosic source has not yet been investigated in making wood-plastic composites. Wood flour-based polypropylene composite with different flour weight fractions (0, 10, 20. 30 and 40%) and constant 4% maleated polypropylene (MAPP) coupling agent have been fabricated using extrusion injection molding process. The effect of wood flour content has been compared with neat polypropylene specimen. Based on the results, with the increment in the proportion of wood flour, the density and mechanical properties showed a significant increase, except for the impact resistance, but no statistically significant difference was observed between the specimens containing 10 to 30% by weight of wood flour. The highest density and mechanical resistances were obtained in the products containing 40% by weight of wood flour. The impact resistance was significantly reduced with the addition of 10% wood flour, and the increase of wood flour from 10 to 40% had no significant effect. Electron microscope images of the fracture surface of the samples were also used to investigate the distribution of wood flour particles in the polymer matrix. In these images, both the overlapping of particles by polymer and the accumulation of wood flour can be seen.