Weathering and Termite Resistance of Woodflour-Recycled Polypropylene Composites in Tropical Region

  • Febrianto, Fauzi (Forest Products Department Faculty of Forestry Bogor Agriculture University) ;
  • Sulaeman, Rudianda (Forest Products Technology Department Faculty of Forestry University Lancang Kuning) ;
  • Karina, Myrtha (Applied Physics Research Centre Indonesia Science Centre) ;
  • Ashaari, Zaidon (Department of Forest Production Faculty of Forestry University Putra Malaysia) ;
  • Hadi, Yusuf Sudo (Forest Products Department Faculty of Forestry Bogor Agriculture University)
  • Received : 2005.12.28
  • Accepted : 2006.02.09
  • Published : 2006.09.25

Abstract

Wood flour (WF)-recycled polypropylene (RPP) composites composed of 50% WF of Eucalyptus deglupta Blume species, 50% RPP, various contents of maleic anhydride (MAH) modifier (0; 1; 2; 5; 5; 7.5; and lo%), and 15% dicumyl peroxide (DCP) initiator (based on MAH weight) were subjected to weather for 1 year and subterranean termite (Coptotermes cuwignathus HOLMGREN) and dry wood termite (Cryptotermes cynocephalus LIGHT) for 3 and 4 weeks, respectively. WF-RPP composites with 2.5% MA modifier had tensile strength, breaking elongation and Young's modulus about 2.2, 2.3, and 1.2 times, respectively higher compared to MAH-free composites. The WF-RPP composites with or without MAH modifier had 5.5 times higher resistance to weather compared to RPP film alone. The color of the WF-RPP composites with or without MAH modifier became lighter after exposures to the weather. The WF-RPP composites with or without MAH modifier are resistant to subterranean termite Coptotermes curvignathus HOLMGREN and dry wood termite Cryptotermecs cynocephalus LIGHT under the experimental condition adopted.

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