EFFECT OF ESTER LINKAGES ON THE MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES OF WOOD FIBER-POLYPROPYLENE COMPOSITES

The esterification reaction between several wood fibers and maleated p olypropylenes, and its role in determining the mechanical properties o f wood fiber-polypropylene composites was investigated. The modificati on technique used in this study involved bulk treatment in a thermokin etic mixer. The treatment of wood fiber with maleated polypropylene ha d a significant effect in increasing the mechanical properties of the composites. However, no direct evidence of ester links was detected be tween wood fiber and maleated polypropylene by FT-IR. Thus, the effect iveness of maleated polypropylene in improving the mechanical properti es was attributed to the compatibilization effect which is accomplishe d by improving the wettability of wood fiber by the matrix polymer, lo wering the fiber to fiber interactions, improving fibers dispersion an d orientation, and enhancing the adhesion between wood fiber and polyp ropylene matrix.