Effect of Coupling Agent and Acetylation on Thermal Properties, Resistance Against Brown Rot and Acid / Base Contact Angle in Composite Made of Wood Flour- Polypropylene

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of coupling agent and acetylation on the
thermal properties and amount of damaging against brown rot fungus through reducing the weight of the samples and contact angle of acid-base of composites acetylated fibers / polypropylene wood. For this purpose, before the acetylation, fir wood flour extraction material was removed using hot water. By acetylation of weight gain in this study by 0 (control) and 18.8 percent, respectively. Acetylated fibers with coupling agent MAPP (0, 3 and 6%) were mixed in the extruder two screw (Collin) (speed 60 rpm, temperature 160 °C). Wood plastic composite (WPC) was made by hot press (temperature 200 °C, pressure 25 MPa, press time 5 minutes). The samples were treated by brown rot for 8 weeks. Finally enthalpy, the percentage of crystallites and limited oxygen index and contact angle of acid-base and acetylated samples obtained from fungal decay and weight loss also was evaluated. The results showed the effect of increasing the percentage of acetylation agent and enthalpy, the percentage of crystallites and limited oxygen index of 86, 86 and 1.1 percent, weight loss, in all samples, including the rotten and non-decayed decreased but increased contact angle. Acetylation of acids and bases contact angle respectively 4.8 and 10.5 percent. By increasing the contact angle of acid-base coupling, respectively 20.7 and 10.7 percent.