To reduce the moisture absorption of wood fiber reinforced recycled plastic composites (WRPCs), coupling agent (KH550), methyl methacrylate (MMA), and maleic anhydride (MA) were used to modify the wood fibers in this work. The results indicated that the three different surface treatment methods could effectively reduce the moisture absorption and thickness swelling of WRPCs. Compared with the untreated wood fiber reinforced WRPCs, the moisture absorption ratios of WRPCs with wood fibers treated by KH550, MMA, and MA were reduced by 10.0%, 21.7%, and 27.6% respectively, the impact toughness was increased by 18.4%, 24.0%, and 2.1% respectively after 4 weeks’ immersion in hot water. The tensile strength of WRPCs was increased by 26.0% for KH550 and 11.1% for MA treatment respectively, but was decreased by 6.5% for MMA treatment. Coupling treatment of wood fibers was the best way to reduce the moisture absorption of WRPCs and this kind of WRPCs possessed the optimum comprehensive properties.
Merdas, I., Thominette, A. and Tcharkhtchi, A. ( 2001). Factors Governing Water Absorption by Composite Matrices , Composites Science and Technology, 62(4): 487-492.
2.
Espert, A., Vilaplana, F. and Karlsson, S. ( 2004). Comparison of Water Absorption in Natural Cellulosic Fibers from Wood and One-year Crops in Polypropylene Composites and its Influence on their Mechanical Properties, Composites Part A, 35(11): 1267-1276.
3.
Saeed, K.N., Azadeh, K.A. and Elham, H. ( 2007). Water Absorption Behavior of Composites from Sawdust and Recycled Plastics, Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites, 26(3): 341-350.
4.
Yang, H.S., Kim, H.J. and Park, H.J. ( 2006). Water Absorption Behavior and Mechanical Properties of Lignocellulosic Filler-Polyolefin Bio-composites, Composite Structures, 72(4): 429-437.
5.
Thwe, M.M. and Liao, K. ( 2003). Durability of Bamboo-Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer Matrix Hybrid Composites, Composites Science and Technology, 63(3-4): 375-387.
6.
Lu, X., Zhang, M.Q. and Rong, M.Z. ( 2004). Environmental Degradability of Self-reinforced Composites made from Sisal, Composites Science and Technology, 64(9): 1301-1310.
7.
Arbelaiz, A. , Fernandez, B., Ramos, J.A. and Retegi, A. (2005). Mechanical Properties of Short Flax Fiber Bundle/Polypropylene Composites: Influence of Matrix/Fiber Modification, Fiber Content, Water Uptake, and Recycling, Composites Science and Technology, 65(10): 1582-1592.
8.
George, J., Sreekala, M.S. and Thomas, S. ( 2001). A Review on Interface Modification and Characterization of Natural Fiber Reinforced Plastic Composites, Polymer Engineering and Science, 41(9): 1471-1485.
9.
Pothan, L.A. and Thomas, S. (2001). Effect of Hybridization and Chemical Modification on the Water-absorption Behavior of Banana Fiber-reinforced Polyester Composites, Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 91(6): 3856-3865.
10.
Shi, Q.S. and Gardner, D.J. (2006). Hygroscopic Thickness Swelling Rate of Compression Molded Wood Fiber and Wood Fiber/Polymer Composite , Composites Part A, 37(9): 1276-1285.
11.
Tajvidi, M. and Ebrahimi, G. (2003). Water Uptake and Mechanical Characteristics of Natural Filler-Polypropylene Composites, Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 88(4): 941-946.
12.
Clemons, C.M. and Ibach, R.E. (2004). The Effects of Processing Method and Moisture History on the Laboratory Fungal Resistance of Wood-HDPE Composites, Forest Products Journal, 54(4): 50-57.
13.
Stark, N. ( 2001). Influence of Moisture Absorption on Mechanical Properties of Wood Flour-Polypropylene Composites, Journal of Thermoplastic Composite Material, 14: 421-432.
14.
Rangaraj, S.V. and Smith, L.V. (2000). Effects of Moisture on the Durability of a Wood/ Thermoplastic Composite, Journal of Thermoplastic Composite Materials, 13(2): 140-161.
15.
Lin, Q. , Zhou, X. and Dai, G. (2002). Effect of Hydrothermal Environment on Moisture Absorption and Mechanical Properties of Wood Flour Filled Polypropylene Composite, Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 85: 2824.
16.
Balatinecz, J.J. and Park, B.D. (1997). The Effects of Temperature and Moisture Exposure on the Properties of Wood Fiber Thermoplastic Composites , Thermoplastic Composite Materials, 10: 476-487.
17.
Mishra, S., Mohanty, A.K. and Drzal, L.T. ( 2003). Tripathy Studies on Mechanical Performance of Biofibre/Glass Reinforced Polyester Hybrid Composites, Composites Science and Technology, 63(10): 1377-1385.
18.
Thwe, M.M. and Liao, K. ( 2003). Environmental Effects on Bamboo-Glass/Polypropylene Hybrid Composites, Journal of Material Science, 38(2): 363-376.
19.
Mishra, S., Naik, J.B. and Patil, Y.P. ( 2000). The Compatibilizing Effect of Maleic Anhydride on Swelling and Mechanical Properties of Plant-Fiber Reinforced Novolac Composites, Composites Science and Technology, 60(4): 1729-1735.
20.
Bessadok, A., Marais, S. and Gouanve, F. ( 2007). Effect of Chemical Treatments of Alfa (Stipa tenacissima) Fibres on Water-Sorption Properties, Composites Science and Technology, 67(3-4): 685-697.
21.
Zhou, X.P., Li, R.K. and Xie, X.L. ( 2003). Reinforcement of Polypropylene Using Sisal Fibers Grafted with Poly(methyl methacrylate), Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 88(4): 1055-1064.
22.
Arbelaiz, A., Fernandez, B., Ramos, J.A., Retegi, A., Llano-Ponte, R. and Mondragon, I. ( 2005). Mechanical Properties of Short Flax Fibre Bundle/Polypropylene Composites: Influence of Matrix/Fibre Modification, Fibre Content, Water Uptake, and Recycling, Composite Science and Technology, 65: 1582-1592.
23.
Lu, X., Zhang, M.Q., Rong, M.Z., Yue, D.L. and Yang, G.C. ( 2004). Environmental Degradability of Self-reinforced Composites made from Sisal, Composite Science and Technology, 64: 1301-1310.
24.
Chow, C.P.L. , Xing, X.S. and Li, R.K.Y. (2007). Moisture Absorption Studies of Sisal Fibre Reinforced Polypropylene Composites, Composites Science and Technology, 67: 306-313.
25.
Gassan, J. and Bledzki, A.K. ( 2000). Possibilities to Improve the Properties of Natural Fiber Reinforced Plastics by Fiber Modification - Jute Polypropylene Composites , Applied Composite Materials, 7: 373-385.
26.
Van Den Oever, M.J.A., Bos, H.L. and Van Kemenade , M.J.J.M. (2000). Influence of the Physical Structure of Flax Fibres on the Mechanical Properties of Flax Fibre Reinforced Polypropylene Composites, Applied Composite Materials, 7: 387-402.
27.
Li, T.Q. , Ng, C.N. and Li, R.K.Y. (2001). Impact Behavior of Sawdust/Recycled-PP Composites, Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 81: 1420.
28.
Fung, K.L., Li, R.K.Y. and Tjong, S.C. ( 2002). Interface Modification on the Properties of Sisal Fiber-reinforced Polypropylene Composites, Journal of Applied Polymer Science , 85: 169-176.
29.
Joseph, P.V. , Rabello, M.S., Mattosol, H.C., Joseph, K. and Thomas, S. (2002). Environmental Effects on the Degradation Behaviour of Sisal Fibre Reinforced Polypropylene Composites , Composite Science and Technology, 62(10-11): 1357-1372.
