ABSTRACT
310The additives are generally the polymer materials with dispersed matrix without affecting significantly the molecular structure of the polymer to attend certain desirable properties. There are number of advantages in adding these additives in the wood-plastics composites (WPCs). The major advantages are shown here. One of such additives, that is, palm kernel nut shell (PKNS) powder was prepared. This being an eco-friendly additive can replace other inorganic additives including the base material (up to certain percentage).
Addition of wood flour or such additives improves the mechanical properties of thermoplastics, but on the other hand, it increases the burning speed of the materials. Thus, to achieve good WPCs, additives are very critical and indispensible even though they are used at just small percentages, as they give WPCs sufficient stiffness, rigidity, and good stability against light and heat. Hence, a study is made to select such additives with right percentage, so as to provide the required properties.
WPCs can be made with a variety of plastics and wood additives, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, and polystyrene. What’s more, WPCs are just one category of an emerging family of materials that can be termed “thermoplastic biocomposites.” Besides wood, these biocomposites can also utilize other natural fibers such as rice hulls, palm fiber waste, or flax.
In this chapter, a study of physical and mechanical properties of polypropylene and untreated and treated PKNS powder composites is explained in detail. The result analysis and graph are prepared and discussed here.
