Studies on Composites Using Wood and Nonwood Fibers - Effects of Polypropylene Fiber Length and Process Variables -

목질(木質)과 비목질계(非木質系) 섬유(纖維)를 활용한 복합재(複合材) 연구(硏究) - 폴리프로필렌의 섬유장(纖維長)과 공정변수(工程變數)의 영향(影響)을 중심(中心)으로 -

This study was executed to examine the effects of polypropylene fiber length and process variables of the composites made from wood fiber and nonwood fiber mixed formulations. As a nonwood fiber the polypropylene with 3 denier thickness of tow condition was selected and cut into each length of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5cm to mix with wood fiber. And also western hemlock wood fiber for medium density fiberboard was prepared. First, to decide an adequate polypropylene mixing fiber length, the composites of 1.0g/$cm^3$ density were made from 10% polypropylene fiber by each of five lengths and 90% western hemlock fiber mixed formulations. Thereafter as the experiments of process variable, the composites applied with adequate polypropylene fiber length(1.5cm) were made from 4 density levels (0.6, 0.8, 1.0, 1.2g/$cm^3$). 3 mixed formulations of wood fiber to polypropylene fiber(95 : 5, 90 : 10, 85 : 15), and 3 mat moisture contents(5, 10, 20%). According to the results and discussions it was concluded as follows ; The physical and mechanical properties were shown improved tendency. as polypropylene fiber length was increased in the range from 0.5 to 1.5cm, but shown decreasing tendency from 2.0 to 2.5 cm. Accordingly, it was shown that polypropylene fiber length is limited to 1.5cm or less length in mixing wood fiber and polypropylene fiber by turbulent air mixing process. As the densities of wood fiber-polypropylene fiber composites were increased, the physical and mechanical properties were clearly improved. Also they were shown significantly increasement statistically between densities respectively. In the mixed formulations, physical and mechanical properties were shown only slightly improvement, as they changed from 95 : 5 to 85 : 15 in wood fiber to polypropylene fiber. Despite of increasement of mat moisture content, mechanical properties were not improved significantly but physical properties were improved somewhat in wood fiber-polypropylene fiber composites.