• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.278-286
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• 2007

As a part of enhancing the performance of wood-plastic composites (WPC), polypropylene (PP)/ nanoclay (NC)/ wood flour (WF) nanocomposites were prepared using melt blending and injection molding process to evaluate their thermal stability. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was employed to investigate thermal degradation kinetics of the nanocomposites both dynamic and isothermal conditions. Dynamic scans of the TGA showed an increased thermal stability of the nanocomposites at moderate wood flour concentrations (up to 20 phr, percentage based on hundred percent resin) while it decreased with the addition of 30 phr wood flour. The activation energy $(E_a)$ of thermal degradation of nanocomposites increased when nanoclay was added and the concentration of wood flour increased. Different equations were used to evaluate isothermal degradation kinetics using the rate of thermal degradation of the composites, expressed as weight loss (%) from their isothermal TGA curves. Degradation occurred at faster rate in the initial stages of about 60 min., and then proceeded in a gradual manner. However, nanocomposites with wood flour of 30 phr heated at $300^{\circ}C$ showed a drastic difference in their degradation behavior, and reached almost a complete decomposition after 40 min. of the isothermal heating. The degree of decomposition was greater at higher temperatures, and the residual weight of isothermal degradation of nanocomposites greatly varied from about 10 to 90%, depending on isothermal temperatures. The isothermal degradation of nanocomposites also increased their thermal stability with the addition of 1 phr nanoclay and of wood flour up to 20 phr. But, the degradation of PP100/NC1/MAPP3/WF30 nanocomposites with 30 phr wood flour occurs at a faster rate compared to those of the others, indicating a decrease in their thermal stability.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.327-332
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• 2014

Polymer/wood flour composites are recently attracting a lot of interest because they are economic and ecofriendly. In this study, the effects of wood flour size on the thermal and mechanical properties of a polypropylene/wood flour composite were investigated. Mechanical properties of the composite samples prepared by melt-mixing and compression molding were tested by UTM and an izod impact tester, and thermal properties of them were measured by TGA, DMA, DSC and TMA. The best coupling agent was selected by testing three kinds of maleic anhydride modified polypropylene coupling agents, and under the same condition, the effects of wood flour size on the physical properties of the composite were investigated. According to the test results for four different wood flour sizes of 600, 250, 180 and $150{\mu}m$, flexural strength, flexural modulus, crystallinity and water-resistivity of the composite increased with decreasing wood flour size.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.141-147
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• 2009

The fluctuation of physical properties in wood or wood composites is an important subject when the materials in building and construction. Sorption and desorption occur in wood when exposed to the open air, and the temperature distribution in wood can fluctuate as a result of changes in environmental temperature, solar radiation, humidity, and wind velocity. In this study, the temperature difference and fluctuation caused by outdoor environment among different wood species were analyzed using a numerical method. The effect on the process of heat transfer in wood caused by environmental factors was investigated using 1-dimensional partial differential equation with real boundary and initial conditions. The experimental data have been used to check the accuracy of programming code. Through analysis, it was found out that density and moisture content have a negative effect on thermal diffusivity of wood.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.22-29
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• 2006

The overlaid panels are important materials in interior and construction with added surface layers (PVC films, decorative paper, decorative veneer). Generally, the adhesive for decorative veneer to wood-based panel is urea-formaldehyde (UF) adhesive which cause the emission of formaldehyde during not only the manufacturing process, but also service life. In this study, environment-friendly SIS-based hotmelt pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) was evaluated as a adhesive for bonding a decorative veneer. The various SIS-based hotmelt PSA was blended as a function of diblock content, softening point of tackifier, tackifier content, and applied to bonding the decorative veneer.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.434-439
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• 2009

This study investigates the thermal properties of nanocomposites prepared from poly(lactic acid) (PLA), wood flour (WF) and montmorillonite (MMT) by melt compounding with a twin screw extruder. In order to enhance the mechanical properties of PLA/WF composites, maleic anhydride grafted PLA (MAPLA) is synthesized as a compatibilizer. MAPLA prepared in the laboratory is characterized using FR-IR. From SEM microphotographs, the presence of MAPLA has a positive effect on the mechanical properties of WF-reinforced PLA composites. The addition of WF/MAPLA into neat PLA increased the glass transition temperature ($T_g$). The addition of 1 to 5 wt% MMT into PLA/WF/MAPLA composite decreases the $T_g$. The cold crystallization temperature ($T_{cc}$) was decreased by the addition of MMT. The MMT could act as effective nucleating sites of PLA crystallization. The thermal stability evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) is improved with the contents of MMT up to 3 wt%.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.29-35
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• 2007

This research investigates the composites reinforced with fiberglass to wood and commercial particleboard using VARTM process to enhance the mechanical properties. Specimens were prepared from lumbers from thinning crop-trees and commercial particleboard. Matched specimen were reinforced on both sides with one layer of unidirectional fiberglass roving. Fiberglass reinforcement to wood and particleboard using VARTM process improved mechanical properties.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.505-514
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• 2016

To study mechanical properties of fiberglass reinforced wood-based composite (FRWC), fiberglass with a diameter of $20{\mu}m$ was selected to prepare test specimens. Mechanical properties of fiberglass reinforced wood-based composite were determined by three-point-bending test while its microstructure was characterizes by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that mechanical properties of fiberglass reinforced wood-based composite were superior to that of the wood fiberboard based on the contrasting mechanical curves and the analysis of fracture mechanism. It is believed that the material design with this "sandwich" structure brings a unique buffering capacity of fiberglass into play in the composites. So the specimen did not produce a sudden fracture failure at high level of applied loads because it had a bearing ability. The SEM analysis showed that the working strength of PVAc adhesive was high; under a bearing force, it could properly transfer a load. In addition, glass fiber mesh and wood fiber board combined well.

• Journal of Korea Foresty Energy
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.36-46
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• 1998

The aim of this study was to develop the noise and vibration damping wood-based composites by using viscoelastic polymer materials. Polyvinylchloride(PVC) was plasticized with 20-140 phr bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate(DOP) and the dynamic tensile mechanical properties were measured at 110Hz and approximate temperature range -100 to 150$^{\circ}$ using a Rheovibron Instrument. The PVC/DOP blends were shown to be compatible in all proportions, and both T(E”$_{max}$) and T(tan${\delta}_{max}$) shifted to the lower temperature side as the DOP content increased. The vibration damping properties of wood/polymer composites were measured using the Rheovibron instrument in a bending mode. The composite damping factor(tan ${\delta}_{c}$) of wood /PVC-DOP/wood sandwich structure correlated with the loss factor and that of the coated structure correlated with the loss modulus(E”) of the polymer layer. In addition, the sandwich structure was found to be more effective in damping than the coated structure. The logarithmic decrement (${\Delta}$c) curve of a sandwich structure, which was determined by the free-free flexural vibration method was similar in shape to the tan ${\delta}_{c}$ curve.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.204-210
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• 2013

Effects of additives (lubricant and antioxidant) and melt-blending condition (temperature, time and rotor speed) on the mechanical properties of polypropylene-based wood polymer composites (WPCs) were investigated. WPCs were prepared by melt-blending followed by compression molding. To understand melt-blending procedure, torque change of the WPC melt-blend was monitored. Maleic anhydride modified PP and nanoclay were used as a compatibilizer and a reinforcing filler, respectively. UTM and izod impact tester were used to measure the mechanical properties of the WPCs and a color-difference meter was used to measure the discoloration of the WPCs according to melt-blending condition. The mechanical properties showed that the optimized melt-blending condition was $170^{\circ}C$, 15 min, and 60 rpm. The mechanical properties of the WPCs decreased with increasing lubricant and antioxidant content. The two step method, adding wood flour later separately during melt-blending, was more effective than the typical one step method for improving the mechanical properties of the WPCs.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.73-78
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• 2008

Inorganic chemical treated wood was prepared by impregnation of calcium or magnesium chloride ($CaCl_2$ or $MgCl_2$) solution and immersion in saturated solution of ammonium fluoride ($NH_4F$) as a reactant in order to make an introduction of a refractory fluorides with fungicidal and insecticidal effects in wood. The weight percent gains (WPGs) were increased with increase in concentration of calcium chloride or magnesium chloride solution, and were higher in treatment with calcium chloride than with magnesium chloride. Inorganic substances were produced mainly in the lumina of tracheides. These substances were proved to be the calcium fluoride or magnesium fluoride by the energy dispersive X-ray analyzer in conjunction with a scanning electron microscope (SEM-EDX). The treated wood showed good decay resistance because the weight losses were hardly occurred by the test fungi such as Tyromyces palustris and Trametes versicolor. The fire resistance effect was superior to the treated wood compared with that of the untreated wood.