• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.1-9
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• 2002

The main goal of this study was to analyze the effect of process additives, i.e. maleated polypropylene (MAPP), and nucleating agent on the viscoelastic properties of different types of extruded polypropylene-wood plastic composites manufactured from either PP homopolymer, high crystallinity PP or PP impact copolymer using dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. And also, the esterification reaction between wood flour and maleated polypropylene, and its role in determining the mechanical properties of wood flour-polypropylene composites was investigated. The wood plastic composites were manufactured using 60% pine wood flour and 40% polypropylene on a Davis-Standard $Woodtruder^{TM}$. Dynamic mechanical thermal properties, polymer damping peaks(than ${\delta}$), storage modulus (E') and loss modulus (E") were measured using a dynamic mechanical thermal analyzer. XPS (X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy), also known as ESCA (Electron Spectroscopy for Chemical Analysis) study of wood flour treated with MAPP was performed to obtain information on the chemical nature of wood fiber before and after treatment. To analyze the effect of frequency on the dynamic mechanical properties of the various composites, DMA tests were performed over a temperature range of -20 to $100^{\circ}C$, at four different frequencies (1, 5, 10 and 25 Hz), and at a heating rate of $5^{\circ}C/min$. From these results, the activation energy of the various composite was measured using an Arrhenius relationship to investigate the effect of maleated PP and nucleating agent on the measurement of the interphase between the wood and plastic of the extruded polypropylene wood plastic composites.

• Composites Research
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.202-208
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• 2018

In this paper, mechanical and hygroscopic properties of teak sawdust and recycled polypropylene (RPP) composites are evaluated and compared with virgin polypropylene (VPP) matrix based composites. Verities of composites are prepared by variation in the plastic types, wood plastic ratio and the addition of coupling agent in the formulations. Mixing of wood sawdust and polypropylene is done by a twin screw extruder, and then sheets of wood plastic composites (WPCs) are produced by using the compression molding method. The results show that recycled matrix composites exhibit better tensile, flexural strength with low impact strength than virgin matrix based composites. Recycled composites show low water absorption and thickness of swelling than virgin matrix based composites. The results confirm that wood content in the polymer matrix affects the performance of composites while presence maleated polypropylene (MAPP) improves the properties of the composites significantly. Developed RPP matrix composites are as useful as VPP matrix composites and have the potential to replace the wood and plastics products without any adverse effect of the plastics on the environment.

• Composites Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.48-53
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• 2013

This paper summarizes the structural characterization of borassus fruit fibers by means of various characterization techniques, optimization of alkali treatment of borassus fruit fine fibers (BFF) with a 5% concentration sodium hydroxide solution for different time intervals (1, 4, 8 and 12 h) and the changes occurring in borassus fibers. This paper also discusses the manufacturing of BFF/PP compotes using MAPP as a compatibilizer in addition to alkali treatment. Composites were evaluated for their mechanical and morphological properties. The tensile strength and modulus, flexural strength and modulus and impact strength were increased for alkali treated/MAPP composites by 4.5%, 17%, 17.2 %, 9% and 10% respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.160-167
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• 2008

Nanocomposites with polypropylene/clay/wood flour were prepared by melt blending and injection molding. Thermal, mechanical and morphological properties were characterized. The addition of ballmilled clay, compatibilizer and wood flour significantly improved the thermal stability of the hybrids. The tensile modulus and strength of most hybrids was highly increased with the increased loading of clay, maleated polypropylene (MAPP) and wood flour (WF), compared to the PP/WF hybrids. The tensile modulus and strength of most hybrids were highly increased with the increased loading of ballmilled clay, MAPP and wood flour, compared to the hybrids with PP/WF. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) photomicrographs illustrated the intercalated and partially exfoliated structures of the hybrids with ballmilled clay, MAPP and wood flour.

• Composites Research
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.23-31
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• 2007

In order to improve the mechanical properties of jute fiber/polypropylene(PP) composites, the property change with the addition of a coupling agent, maleic anhydride polypropylene(MAPP) was examined experimentally. The maleated coupler acts as an intermediate to chemically connect the polar nature of the fiber and non-polar nature of the polyolefin polymer resin. Furthermore, the decrease in viscosity of the resin which results from the melting point reduction by the MAPP, leads to an increase of contact area with the fiber interface. We discussed the improvement of the PP composite blend of the maleated coupler with the 80mm jute long fiber mat in conjunction with the change of physical parameters in the thermoplastic resin. We confirmed the extent of contribution to the mechanical physical enhancement by using the following parameters: melting flow index(MI) and viscosity, contact angle, thickness of the composite, interfacial shear strength and morphology observation etc. Especially it was observed that the MI and viscosity, MAPP mixture had a very strong relationship with the tensile and flexural strength and modulus, and interfacial shear strength(IFSS).

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Rheology Conference
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• 2000.11a
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• pp.48-51
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• 2000

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.490-495
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• 2009

The reactive compatibilization of amorphous poly-${\alpha}$-olefins (APAO)/amorphous polyamide (aPA) blends was carried out using two kinds of reactive compatibilizers such as maleated polypropylene and ethylene-glycidyl methacrylate-methyl acrylate copolymer. The grafting reaction rates between aPA and the compatibilizers were examined using FT-IR, SEM and rheometer. The effect of the reactive compatibilization on the mechanical property of the blends was investigated with a universal testing machine. The adhesion strength of the blends including a hydrocarbon tackifier resin, C9 was also measured.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.505-516
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• 2009

The effects of wood species, particle size of wood flours and coupling treatment on the mechanical properties of wood plastic composites (WPC) are investigated in this study. Chemical components of wood flour from 3 different wood species were analyzed by the chemical analysis. Wood flours of 40~60 mesh and 80~100 mesh were manufactured from Larix (Larix kaempferi Lamb.), Quercus (Quercus accutisima Carr.), and Maackia (Maackia amuresis Rupr. et Maxim). The wood flours were reinforced into polypropylene (PP) by melt compounding and injection molding, then tensile, flexural, and impact strength properties were analyzed. The order of alpha-cellulose content in wood is Quercus (43.6%), Maackia (41.3%) and Larix (36.2%). The order of lignin content in wood is Larix (31.6%), Maackia (24.7%), and Quercus accutisima (24.4%). The content of extractives in wood is in the order of Larix (8.5%), Maackia (4.4%), and Quercus accutisima (3.9%). As the content of alpha-cellulose increases and the lignin and extractives decreases, tensile and flexural strengths of the WPC increase. At the same loading level of wood flours, the smaller particle size (80~100 mesh) of wood flours showed highly improved tensile and flexural strengths, compared to the larger one (40~60 mesh). The impact strength of the WPC was not significantly affected by the wood species, but the wood flours of larger particle size showed better impact strengths. The addition of maleated polypropylene (MAPP) provided the highly improved tensile, flexural and impact strengths. Morphological analysis shows improved interfacial bonding with MAPP treatment for the composites.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.10 no.8
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• pp.1136-1140
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• 1999

Melt blends of polymide 6(PA6) and polypropylene grafted maleic anhydride(PP-g-MA) were prepared to study the influence of chemical reaction between the two polymer components. The tensile, flexural, izod impact, dynamic mechanical properties and phase structure were investigated for this blend system. Tensile strength and modulus of the blends showed synergetic effect upon blending of two polymer components. Flexural properties maintained the value of numerical mean calculated from the weight ratio of two components. Also, notched izod impact strengths showed maximum in th PA6/PP-g-MA 50/50 wt % blend. From the change of tan ${\delta}$ observed, we confirmed the increase of miscibility in this blend system by chemical reaction between PA6 and PP-g-MA. Blends of good impact resistance could be obtained when the PP-g-MA particles of $2{\mu}m$ was dispersed in the PA6 matrix.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.10 no.8
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• pp.1141-1146
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• 1999

Melt blend of PA6/PP-g-MA system containing SEBS-g-MA as a compatible impact modifier was prepared to investigate the change of mechanical properties and morphologies. The tensile strength slightly decreased, but the elongation at break increased with increasing content of SEBS-g-MA in the blend. Also the notched izod impact strength increased with increasing the content of PP-g-MA and SEBS-g-MA. It is attributed to improved compatibilization and interfacial adhesion by reaction of the amide of PA6 with maleic anhydride of SEBS-g-MA and PP-g-MA. The result of dynamic mechanical analysis(DMA) showed a typical behavior of the compatibilization in the polymer blends. Finally, in the phase structure observed by the use of SEM, we confirmed improvement of the compatibilization and interfacial adhesion with increasing the content of SEBS-g-MA and PP-g-MA.