Parametric characterization of nano-hybrid wood polymer composites using ANOVA and regression analysis
Introduction
Plastic and wood residue generated during various manufacturing phases contribute significantly to the overall pollution of the planet. Recycling has become one of the essential contemporary ways to decrease junk materials. The modern technologies have allowed for all parts of plastic and wood to be recycled and used in the manufacturing of various products including the ones that were traditionally considered unusable and thrown away, thus, contributing to lowering the impact of pollution on the environment [1]. Wood-polymer composites or wood-plastic composites (WPCs) are one of the examples of the modern materials produced as an amalgam of two materials that are usually made using recycled base components (wood and plastic) [1]. Wood-polymer composites (WPCs) are defined as a combination of wood in any form and thermoplastic/thermoactivated polymers and can be made using different manufacturing techniques including extrusion, injection, compression and thermal molding. The choice of materials varies greatly and depends on the predefined characteristics of the end product. As environmentally friendly materials, wood fibers are often mixed with various thermoplastic fillers to produce the core of the composite. When used together, this mixture gives a number of desirable properties to the composite such as low density, high toughness, high resistance to decay and rotting as well as good resistance to impact [1]. Increased durability and recycling potential make WPCs one of the materials of choice in sustainable manufacturing that is recognized as an important part of sustainable development described in the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development [2]. WPC is an ideal alternative to traditional materials due to its physical properties that substitute wood effectively, especially in interior design, architecture or constructions. WPCs are materials of choice in manufacturing window frames, doors, benches, fences, ship decks, floors and more due to their durability, malleability and easy maintenance [3], [4], [5]. There has been a growing number of studies in the last decade that assessed the properties of WPCs with a special focus on strength, rigidness, lower cost and low impact on the environment [1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8]. Contemporary research into the technological manufacturing processes has allowed for the rapid development of composites with good mechanical properties, high dimensional stability, as well as high malleability needed to effectively produce complex shapes [3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8]. Modern WPCs do not require finalization, withstand weather conditions, are moisture and mold tolerant which are the reason why they are used in open-air conditions where the use of natural wood is contraindicated [3]. Most WPCs have a PVC contents and also have a number of benefits including cheap and widely available base components, competitive prices, the potential for producing products of different shapes and sizes, adequate resistance to wear and tear, and lower maintenance price compared to conventional materials [6], [7], [8]. WPCs have increased the usability of raw wood by 40% because much of WPC is made from waste wood [8]. WPC does not contain formaldehyde or aggressive organic components and it is reusable and can be safely disposed of at landfills along with other waste. The industries that use these composites include construction, infrastructure, and the transport industry [8]. The current literature suggests that WPC has better exploitation characteristics and mechanical properties in the process of making complex profiles compared to its individual components namely wood or plastic [8]. This fact opens up possibilities for the currently used conventional materials to be replaced with cheaper and environmentally friendly WPC alternatives. The type of the thermoplastic matrix determines the thermal stability of WPCs along with the extent of thermal degradation of their lignocellulosic filler [6], [7], [8]. Producing a WPC with predetermined characteristics requires adding reinforcement materials such as PETE fibers, glass fibers or metal wires. The need for this research is supported by the increased demand to develop sustainable hybrid and environmentally friendly wood-polymer composites [2]. This research paper focuses on the ways of improving the properties of WPCs for the end product to have the best characteristics possible. It introduced and analyzed WPC samples manufactured using date palm leaf (DPL), Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and either or both commercially recycled PETE and nano-Aluminum Oxide (nano-Al2O3) with different content mix by total weight of the mixture. Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) matrix gives the composite sample excellent mechanical, chemical and water repellant properties. Using ceramics particles in PMMA-based WPCs advances both mechanical and chemical characteristics. Ceramic particles made of nano-Al2O3 can change the properties of composites depending on their crystal structure. Thermoplastic fiber reinforcement can be an ecologically sound alternative to other reinforcing materials and can be made from PETE bottles or other types of recyclable plastic products. The covalent bonding between toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and wood can increase the chemical resilience and enhances the mechanical properties of composites.
Section snippets
Materials and preparation
Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) manufactured by Mitsubishi Rayon as a WPC matrix and toluene as an organic dissolver were used. Polyethylene terephthalate (PETE) recycled by Arabian Recycling Company was used as reinforcement fibers. Toluene Diisocyanate (TD) was used as a binding agent. 4, 4′-Oxydianiline (ODA) and, N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) by Parchem Fine Chemicals were used to prepare the nano-Aluminum Oxide (nano-Al2O3) particles. All of the materials were used in their original form or as
Results and discussion
The crystal phase of the synthesized nano-Al2O3 particles was determined by X-ray diffractometric analysis (XRD). XRD curve in Fig. 1 was generated by Tal Structure APD2000 diffractometric x-ray analysis (X-rays) and scanning in the range of 5-90° 2θ. The dominant structure was found to be the ƞ-phase Al2O3 with strong intensity (Fig. 1). Fig. 2 displays the Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) of the WPC samples. The analysis of the FTIR spectra indicated that the peeks exist at
Conclusion
The results suggest that recycling of date palm leaves and PETE improve the mechanical characteristics of composite samples opening another manufacturing process, thus helping reduce wood and plastic waste. In order to produce a stronger WPC structure with range of reinforcements for different applications, series of different sample types were manufactured. The findings of this research suggest that WPC samples containing nano-Al2O3 have greater resistance to temperature and enhanced
Data Availability
Data, models, and code that support the findings of this study are available upon request.
Declaration of Competing Interest
The author declared that he has no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
Acknowledgement
This project was funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research DSR at the Northern Border University NBU under grant number (ENG-2019-1-10-F-8482). The author acknowledges with thanks DSR and NBU for this financial support.
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