Effect of nanoclay (Montmorillonite) on the physical-mechanical properties of polypropylene / wood flour composites

In this study، the effect of clay nanoparticles on the mechanical and physicalproperties of wood plastic composite were studied. For this purpose، the weightratio of 50% wood flour was mixed with 50% polypropylene and 0، 3 and 5 percentnanoclay based on polypropylene and 4% modified polypropylene with MaleicAnhydride based on polypropylene were used. First، the ingredients were mixedusing the extruder and then، the final panels were produced by hot pressing. Mechanical tests including tensile، bending and screw withdrawal strength andphysical tests including thickness swelling and water absorption after 2 and 24hours of immersion were performed. Results showed that with increasing 3%nanoclay، the mechanical properties of wood plastic composite increased and thendecreased over nanoclay loading more than 3%. Moreover، water absorption andthickness swelling decreased by addition of nanoclay to composites.