Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol.107, No.4, 2171-2179, 2008
Study on PVC composites containing Eugenia jambolana wood flour
This article describes the properties of composites using unplasticized PVC matrix and wood flour (obtained by crushing the bark of Eugenia jambolana) as filler. Composites were prepared by mixing PVC with varying amounts of wood flour (ranging from 10-40 phr; having particle sizes of 100-150 mu m and < 50 mu m) using two-roll mill followed by compression molding. The effect of wood flour content and its particle size on the properties, i.e., mechanical, dynamic mechanical, and thermal was evaluated. Tensile strength, impact strength, and % elongation at break decreased with increasing amounts of wood flour. Stiffness of the composites (as determined by storage modulus) increased with increasing amounts of the filler. Modulus increased significantly when wood flour having particle size < 50 mu m was used. Morphological characterization (SEM) showed a uniform distribution of wood flour in the composites. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.