Investigating the mechanical properties of wood flour/ polypropylene/ nanoclay composite

The effect of nanoclay and coupling agent contents on the mechanical properties of wood flour/ polypropylene/ nanoclay composites was investigated. Wood flour content was constant at 40%, maleic anhydride at two levels of 2 and 4% and nanoclay (Cloisite 30B) at four levels of 0, 1, 3 and 5% were used. The materials were mixed in an internal mixer at 180 o C, 60 rpm for 12 minutes, and then the specimens were fabricated by injection molding method. The mechanical properties such as tensile and flexural strength, flexural modulus and impact strength were measured. The nanoclay dispersion was examined by X-ray diffraction. The results indicated that the tensile and flexural strength, and the flexural modulus increased with increasing the nanoclay, but impact strength decreased. The tensile and flexural strength, flexural modulus increased as the compatibilizer content increased from 2 to 4%, but impact strength was decreased. The structural examination of the wood polymer nanocomposite with X-ray showed that nanoclay was distributed as intercalation structure in polymer matrix, and the d-spacing of layers were increased with increasing of nanoclay particles content.