Accelerated weathering of fire-retarded wood–polypropylene composites

Published Date
February 2016, Vol.81:305–312, doi:10.1016/j.compositesa.2015.11.028

Author 

• Irina Turku ^,
• Timo Kärki

• School of Energy Systems, Lappeenranta University of Technology, P.O. Box 20, Lappeenranta 53851, Finland

Received 9 August 2015. Revised 29 October 2015. Accepted 17 November 2015. Available online 2 December 2015.

Abstract

In this study, the influence of fire retardants, namely aluminum trihydrate, zinc borate, melamine, graphite, titanium dioxide on the durability of polypropylene-based co-extruded wood–plastic composites is studied. The composites underwent accelerated weathering under a xenon-arc lamp source during 1000 h. FTIR analysis of the composite surface revealed a degradation process which was accompanied by chemical changes, including vinyl-like and carbonyl groups accumulation; fire retardants did not influence the photo-oxidation mechanism of the composite. Fire retardant-loaded samples had smaller color change compared to the unfilled one. The tensile properties of all composites declined after the weathering. Significant changes in the surface morphology of the weathered composites were observed with a scan electron microscope.

Keywords

Wood–plastic composites

Co-extrusion

Fire retardants

Weathering

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