Effect of TiO2 and nanoclay on the properties of wood polymer nanocomposite

Published Date

December 2011, Vol.42(12):2117–2125, doi:10.1016/j.compositesa.2011.09.023

Title 

Effect of TiO₂ and nanoclay on the properties of wood polymer nanocomposite

• Author 

• Biplab K. Deka
• Tarun K. Maji ^,

• Department of Chemical Sciences, Tezpur University, Assam 784 028, India

Received 30 June 2011. Revised 20 August 2011. Accepted 21 September 2011. Available online 24 September 2011.

Abstract

High density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP) and poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) with Phragmites karka wood flour (WF) and polyethylene-co-glycidyl methacrylate (PE-co-GMA) was used to develop wood polymer composite (WPC) by solution blending method. The effect of addition of nanoclay and TiO₂ on the properties of the composite was examined. The exfoliation of silicate layers and dispersion of TiO₂ nanopowder was studied by X-ray diffractometry and transmission electron microscopy. The improvement in miscibility among polymers due to addition of compatibilizer was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). WPC treated with 3 phr each of clay and TiO₂ showed an improvement in thermal stability. Mechanical, UV resistance and flame retarding properties were also enhanced after the incorporation of clay/TiO₂ nanopowder to the composites. Both water and water vapor absorption were found to decrease due to inclusion of nanoclay and TiO₂ in WPC.

Keywords

A. Polymer-matrix composites (PMCs)

A. Wood

B. Mechanical properties

B. Thermal properties

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• ⁎ 
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