Effect of Wood Particle Size on Physical and Mechanical Composites by Nonwoven Web Process

  • Chae, Shoo Geun (Department of Forest Products, College of Forest Science, Kookmin University) ;
  • Eom, Young Geun (Department of Forest Products, College of Forest Science, Kookmin University)
  • Received : 2004.10.21
  • Accepted : 2004.12.30
  • Published : 2005.03.25

Abstract

This study was carried out to discuss the feasibility of wood and plastic wastes as the raw materials for wood particle-plastic composites. For this purpose, composites were manufactured from coarse and fine wood particles and polypropylene fibers by nonwoven web process. And the effect of wood particle size on the performance of the composites were analyzed according to ASTM D 1037-93. In the physical properties of composites, water absorption decreased with the increase of target density and polypropylene fiber content. And the composites with fine wood particles appeared to have slightly lower water absorption than those with coarse wood particles. Thickness swelling did not vary significantly with the increase of target density but increased with the increase of wood particle content. And the composites with fine wood particles were significantly lower in thickness swelling than those with coarse wood particles. In the mechanical properties of composites, dry and wet MOR showed the increasing tendency with the increase of polypropylene fiber content and target density. Dry and wet MOE showed the increasing tendency with the increase of target density but only wet MOE exhibited the increasing tendency with the increase of polypropylene fiber content. Composites with fine wood particles appeared to be generally higher in wet MOR and MOE than those with coarse wood particles. In conclusion, composites with fine wood particles showed generally higher performance than those with coarse ones. Also, composites were significantly superior to control particleboards in the performance, especially in water absorption and thickness swelling.

Keywords

References

  1. American Society for Testing Materials. 1995. Standard test methods for evaluation properties of wood base fiber and particle panel materials. ASTM Designation: D 1037-93. Philadelphia, PA
  2. Duncan, T. F. 1974. Normal resin distribution in particleboard manufacture. For. Prod. J. 24(6): 36-44
  3. Geimer, R. L., W. F. Lehmann, and J. D. McNatt. 1975. Engineering properties of structural particleboards from forest residues. In: Proc. Eight Washington State Univ. Symposium of Particleboard, March: 119-143
  4. Geimer, R. L., C. M. Clemons, and J. E. Wood, Jr. 1993. Density range of compression-molded polypropylene-wood composite. Wood and Fiber Sci. 25(2): 163-169
  5. Kim, J. W. 2000. Studies on physical and mechanical properties of wood fiber-polypropylene fiber composite panel. M. S. Thesis, Kookmin University, Seoul, Korea
  6. Kelly, M. W. 1977. Critical literature review of relationship between processing parameters and physical properties of particleboard. General Technical Report FPL-10, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, WI, USA: 20-22
  7. Krzysik, A. M., J. A. Youngquist, G. E. Myers, I. S. Chahyadi, and P. C. Kolosick. 1991. Wood-polymer bonding in extruded and nonwoven composite panels. In: Proc. Symp. Wood Adhesives 1990- Wood/nonwood Composites. Conner.. H., A. W. Christiansen, G. E. Myers, B. H. River, C. B. Vick, and H. N. Spelter, eds., USDA Forest Serv., Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, WI.: 183-189
  8. Krzysik, A. M. and J. A. Youngquist. 1991. Bonding of air-formed wood/polypropylene fiber composites. Int. J. Adhesion and Adhesives 11(4): 225-240
  9. Lee, B. H. 1998. Effect of coupling agent, bond reinforcing agent and sludge addition level on properties of paper sludge-polypropylene composite. M. S. Thesis, Seoul National University, Suwon, Korea
  10. Lee, C. H. 2000. Studies on manufacturing wood particle- polypropylene fiber composite panel. M. S. Thesis, Kookmin University, Seoul, Korea
  11. Lehmann, W. F. 1970. Resin efficiency in particleboard as influenced by density, atomization and resin content. For. Prod. J. 20(11): 48-54
  12. Lehmann, W. F. 1974. Properties of structural particleboards. For. Frod. J. 24(1): 19-26
  13. Osswald, T. A. 1999. Fundamental principles of polymer composites: Processing and design. In: Proc. 5th International conference on Woodfiber-Plastic Composites. Madison, WI.: 3-18
  14. Rackwitz, G. 1963. Influence of chip dimensions on some properties of wood particleboard. Holz Roh- und Werkst 21(6): 200-209 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02609724
  15. Stark, N. M. and R. W. Rowlands. 2003. Effects of wood fiber characteristics on mechanical properties of wood/polypropylene composites. Wood and Fiber Sci. 35(2): 167-174
  16. Yoon, H. U. 1996. Improvement of board properties and manufacturing process in wood fiber-thermoplastic fiber composite by nonwoven web process. Ph. D. Thesis, Seoul National University, Suwon, Korea
  17. Yoon, H. U. and P. W. Lee. 1997. Wood fiber-thermoplastic fiber composites by turbulent air mixing process(II)- Effect of process variables on the mechanical properties of composites. Mokchae Konghak 25(3): 58-65
  18. Youngquist, J. A., A. M. Krzysik, J. H. Muehl, and C. Carll. 1993. Properties of wood fiber and polymer fiber composite. In: Wood-fiber/polymer composites: Fundamental concepts, processes, and material options. Proc. 1st Woodfiber-Plastic Composite Conference, Madison, WI. and 45th Annual Meeting of the Forest Products Society, New Orleans, LA.: 73-86
  19. Vital, B. R., W. F. Lehmann, and R. S. Boone. 1974. How species and board densities affect properties of exotic hardwood particleboards. For. Prod. J. 24(12): 37-45
  20. Vital, B. R. and J. B. Wilson. 1980. Water adsorption of particleboard and flakeboard. Wood and Fiber Sci. 12(4): 264-271
  21. Wegner, T. H., J. A. Youngquist, and R. M. Rowell. 1992. Opportunities for composite from recycled wood based resources. In: Proc. Materials Research Society Symposium: Materials interactions relevant to recycling of wood-based materials. Rowell, R. M., T. L. Laufenberg, J. K. Rowell, eds., Material Research Society, Pittsburgh: 3-15