Wood fibers are increasingly being used as reinforcement in commercial thermoplastic composites due to their low cost, high specific strength properties and renewable nature. The ultimate goal of our research was to find the fundamental understanding of the mechanical behavior of poplar Wood fiber/polypropylene (PP) composites. The effect of Wood fiber concentrations and compounding temperature on the mechanical properties of composites, prepared using MAPP as the coupling agent, was investigated. In the sample preparation, four levels of fiber loading (10, 20, 30, and 40 w/w%) and three compounding temperatures (180, 190, and 200oC) were used. The results revealed that the major changes in composite properties occurred at fiber contents above 30%. The results clearly showed that the fiber loading of 30 and 40 w/w% at 190oC provided adequate reinforcement to increase the tensile and flexural strength of the composite. The modulus also increased with increasing fiber content, because poplar Wood fibers are believed to be more rigid than polymer. However, the addition of Wood fibers resulted in the reduction of both elongation and impact strength properties of the composites. The FTIR spectroscopy showed that the polymer was bonded to the fibers by ester linkages and hydrogen bonds at 1705–1735 cm-1.

The main objective of this work was to study the effects of nanoclay (NC), microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), and coupling agent (MAPP) on the mechanical and thermal properties. The results showed that mechanical properties of the composites made with MCC were significantly superior to those of unfilled. Addition of MAPP could enhance the mechanical and thermal properties of the blends, due to the improvement of interface bond between the filler and matrix. The significant improvements in tensile properties of the blends composites made with MAPP and NC were further supported by SEM micrographs. The thermo gravimetric analysis indicated that the addition of 5 wt.% MAPP and 3 wt.% NC remarkably increased the thermal stability of the blends compared to the pure PP. It is to be noted that MCC could not improve the thermal stability.

Background and objectives: The possibility of using agricultural lignocellulosic waste as a complementary raw material for the production of Wood composite products can have a good economic justification. This will be possible if the manufactured product has the desired and standard quality, however, considering that the type of Wood material can have a determining effect on the physical and mechanical properties of the final product, therefore, conducting laboratory and research studies in order to recommend A raw material is essential for consumption in industry. The use of agricultural lignocellulosic waste in Wood composite products industries has been the subject of various research activities in different parts of the world in recent years. In this research, in order to improve the mechanical and physical properties of Wood-plastic, nanoclay particles have been used as reinforcements and corncob wastes have been used with poplar Wood.Methodology: The amount of polypropylene and combination of materials were 60 wt% and 40 wt% respectively. The Nano-clay was added in three levels 0, 2 and 4 wt% and the amount of coupling agent was fixed and set to 2 wt% for all treatments. The control samples were made using poly propylene material. Results: The results showed that the tensile and flexural strengths were increased by the addition 25 corncob and 75 poplar wt% particles. For tensile and flexural modulus, adding 2 wt% of nano-clay led to an increase in strength and modulus but there was a decrease when 4 wt% nano-clay was used. The impact strength increased by adding nano-clayConclusion: According to the mechanical and physical properties of all the treatments, the samples which were made of 25 corncob and 75 poplar wt% particle with 2 wt% of Nano-clay had better results compared to other samples.

To improve the mechanical properties of Wood Plastics composites, four lignocellulosic materials (bagasse, rice straw, wheat straw and poplar Wood powder) was used as the reinforcing material. The amount of nano-clay at different levels (0, 3 and 6%) were examined on the performance of Wood plastic composites. Tensile, flexural and impact properties were measured in accordance with ASTM standard test methods. Scanning electron microscope imaging (SEM) and transmission electron microscope imaging (TEM) were performed to interpret the results. The applocation of bagasse and poplar Wood powder compared with wheat and rice straws increased the strength of Wood Plastics composites. Using 3% nanoclay particles increased the strength properties to the maximum values. Imaging the morphology of nanoclay by X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy showed the distribution of nanoclay particles in polymer structure. With increasing the amount of nanoclay to 3%, the distance between layers increased.

This article presents the potential of the application of agricultural residue fibers (i.e., corn stalk, reed stalk, and oilseed stalk) in the production of composites and compares their suitability as reinforcement for thermoPlastics as an alternative to Wood fibers. The effects of fiber loading and CaCO3 content on the mechanical properties of the composites were also studied. Overall trend showed that with the addition of agricultural residue fibers, tensile and flexural properties of the composites are significantly enhanced. Oilseed fibers showed superior mechanical properties due to their high aspect ratio and chemical characteristics. The order of improvement in the mechanical properties of the composites is oilseed stalk>corn stalk>reed stalk at all fiber loadings. The tensile and impact properties of the composite significantly decreased with increasing CaCO3 content but flexural modulus increased, due to the reduction of interfacial bond between the fiber and matrix. It can be concluded that agro-waste materials are attractive reinforcements from the standpoint of mechanical properties.

  Background and objectives: This study has been undertaken to investigate effects of synthetic waste fibers of polyester in improving mechanical properties of Wood plastic composites and also in reducing the accumulation of fiber listed on the environment and reduce environmental pollution through efficient use of raw waste material (polyester fiber) in human needs and in promote WPC industry and improve economic conditions in the industry. Until now, many researchers have studied variety of methods such as modification the surface fiber, use of additives materials and Hybrid to improve the physical and mechanical properties of Wood plastic composite. According to researches, one of the applicative resources to improve the properties of Wood-plastic composites is synthetic organic materials. Researchers in various scientific disciplines from synthetic organic materials of polymer fiber produced short fibers and have used them in various structures including concrete, asphalt and Wood plastic in order to strengthen the physical and mechanical properties them.Materials and methods: Two types of polyester fibers (carpet fibers and plush fibers), high density polyethylene, Wood flour of Populus, maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene (MAPE) and ethylene- glycidyl methacrylate copolymer (E-GMA) as coupling agent were used. After two-stage mixing, resulted granules were hot pressed (at160oC, under 10 Mpa pressures) to produce test boards measuring 20´20´0.7 cm in dimensions. Then to evaluate the mechanical strength including flexural strength, tensile strength and impact strength, test boards were prepared and were cute according to standard. It should be noted that were taken images by Scanning Electron Microscopy from the tensile fracture surface of composite in order to examine the effect of the polyester fibers (carpet fiber and Plush fiber) on the mechanical properties of Wood-plastic composite more closely.Results: Results from measurement of mechanical properties of the samples have shown that with increasing the amount of polyester fibers (carpet fibers and plush fibers), tensile modulus of elasticity of Wood plastic composites decreases and increases his flexural modulus of elasticity. Also by increasing amount carpet fibers, the tensile, flexural and impact strengths of Wood plastic composites-carpet fibers increases. Morphologic study by Scanning Electron Microscopy indicates that with the increasing percentage of polyester fibers, is denser and smoother the integration between the fracture surface of the composite material.Conclusion: The maximum of flexural strength is in a sample that contained 20 wt% carpet fibers. But about the plush fiber, 10 wt% of it is efficient for increasing the flexural and tensile strengths of Wood plastic composites-plush fibers.

In this research the impact of micro cellulose particles length, and coupling agent (MAPP) on the mechanical and thermal properties of Nano/ Wood Plastics composites were investigated. The results showed that mechanical properties of the composites made with 50 micron micro cellulose particles and 5% of MAPP were significantly different to those of the lower length (20 micron) and 2.5% of MAPP. Addition of MAPP enhanced the mechanical and thermal properties of the blends, due to the improvement of interface bond between the filler and matrix of Nano/ Wood Plastics composites. The significant improvements in mechanical properties of the blended composites made with MAPP and NC were further supported by SEM and TEM micrographs. Nano/ clay particles distribution and thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) indicated that the addition of 5% MAPP and the longer micro cellulose particles remarkably increased the thermal stability of the blends compared to other treatments of Nano/ Wood Plastics composites.

In this research, the effects micro crystalline cellulose, and multi walled Carbon Nanotube addition on the mechanical properties of Wood Plastics composites is investigated. Multi walled Carbon Nanotube were added to the composite compound to evaluate and compare their suitability as reinforcement for thermoPlastics. The effects of micro crystalline cellulose size (20 and 50 micron) and Multi and the loading of walled Carbon Nanotube content (0, 1. 5 and 2. 5%) on the mechanical properties were studied. The results showed that mechanical properties of the composites made with 50 microns micro crystalline cellulose and 1. 5 and 2. 5 % of Multi walled Carbon Nanotube were significantly superior to those of the 20 micron) and control samples. Addition of Multi walled Carbon Nanotube enhanced the mechanical properties of the blends, due to the improvement of interface bond between the filler and matrix of Wood Plastics composites. The significant improvements in mechanical properties of the composites made with Multi walled Carbon Nanotube and micro cellulose were further supported by SEM and TEM micrographs.