Surface treatment of eucalyptus wood for improved HDPE composites properties

authors	Gama, N; Barros-Timmons, A; Ferreira, A; Evtuguin, D
nationality	International
journal	JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE
author keywords	cellulose and other wood products; composites; fibers; mechanical properties; thermoplastics
keywords	MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES; NATURAL FIBER; LIGNOCELLULOSIC FIBERS; THERMAL-PROPERTIES; CHEMICAL TREATMENT; FATTY-ACIDS; DENSITY; PERFORMANCE; BEHAVIOR; FILLER
abstract	In this study, the effect of Eucalyptus globulus wood (UE) used as a filler (5-20% w/w) on the physical and thermal properties of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) composites was evaluated. To improve the compatibility with HDPE, the wood was modified (TE) using crude glycerol derived from biodiesel production. The addition of 20% (w/w) of UE or TE led to more rigid and durable composite materials compared to neat HDPE (about 50 or 100% increase in tensile strength, respectively). Composites also revealed 55-75 degrees C higher temperatures at maximal degradation rates. The advantageous behavior of TE over UE in composites was attributed to the improvement of surface morphology of modified wood and it is better compatibility with the HDPE as revealed by surface energy analysis. The changes in wetting behavior of HDPE and ensuing HDPE-TE composites (contact angles of ca 72 and 80 degrees, respectively) explain the matrix-filler interactions. (c) 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 137, 48619.
publisher	WILEY
issn	0021-8995
isbn	1097-4628
year published	2020
volume	137
issue	17
digital object identifier (doi)	10.1002/app.48619
web of science category	Polymer Science
subject category	Polymer Science
unique article identifier	WOS:000493860300001