The effect of Nano-wollastonite on bending properties and fire resistance characteristics of wood flour/polypropylene composite

In this study, effect of nano-wollastonite on fire resistance characteristics of wood flour/polypropylene composite was investigated. The composites samples were manufactured using a dry blend/hot press method. In this study, the dried wood flour of beech as the filler in a 60%, poly propylene as the matrix in a 37% and polyethylene grafted with maleic anhydride as the coupling agent in a 3% total weight was used. Also, nano-wollastonite was used in four levels of dried wood flour loading (0, 1, 3 and 5%). Nominal density and dimensions of the composites were 1 g/cm3 and 1*20*25 cm, respectively.Bending strenght according to ASTM standard and Fire resistance characteristics such as, flammability duration, duration of flame after removing the burner, duration of glow after removing the burner and mass reduction were measured acceding to ISO 11925. Results indicated that by increasing the nano-wollastonite increases the bending strengh,MOE and flammability duration increased but mass reduction, duration of flame and duration of glow decreased. Also the dispersion of nano-wollastonite in composites was evaluated by Filed Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM).