0000000000424407
AUTHOR
Joanna Barton-pudlik
Conifer Needles as Thermoplastic Composite Fillers: Structure and Properties
This study describes the properties of thermoplastic polymer composites based on polyethylene (of low and high density) and ethylene-propylene copolymers using various types of conifer needles (pine, spruce, fir, and cedar) as fillers. For the needles, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and TGA/Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (TGA/FTIR) were performed to investigate their structures and thermal resistance, as required for the composite processing methods. Moreover, structural differences were studied for the analyzed fillers and composite materials (FTIR). The results were compared with the values obtained for composites with conifer wood flour. Composites with conifer needles (pine) …
Fast-growing willow (Salix viminalis) as a filler in polyethylene composites
Abstract The study investigated the possibility of using wood flour obtained from fast-growing willow chips (Salix viminalis) as an alternative for standard hard- and softwood flours used in the production of wood polymer composites (WPCs). The composites contained willow flour and polyethylene matrix (OPCs) were prepared, characterized and compared with other WPCs which had been filled with hard- or softwood flours. Moreover, the structural and functional properties were investigated and discussed. Greater hemicellulose contents and lower lignin contents in OPCs resulted in better impact strength values of those materials. Which is interesting, the chemical composition of OPCs was found si…
Evaluation of wood-polyethylene composites biodegradability caused by filamentous fungi
Abstract This study describes the impact of filamentous fungi on wood-polymer composites (WPCs) containing various types of fillers (coniferous, deciduous, cellulose) in the amount of 30 wt.% to 50 wt.%. The selection of fungal strain of filamentous fungi was performed prior to the study on the impact of the wood type on the progress of WPCs biodegradability. The changes associated with various water absorption of the examined WPCs, were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The impact of fungal mycelium, which had affected the changes in WPCs material, was examined using thermogravimetric analysis (TG). The results showed, that the growth of mycelium on WPCs, influenced mainly…
Resistance of Conifer Needle Polyolefin Composites (CNPCs) Against Biodecomposition Caused by Fungi
This study describes the resistance of composites filled with conifer needles to biodecomposition processes caused by a single strain of Aspergillus niger as well as by a consortium of microorganisms present in the compost substrates (forest or spent mushroom composts). The impact of various types of conifer needles on the growth of A. niger was studied to determine whether the filler can show the fungistatic effect. The changes in chemical composition of the composites surfaces were examined using attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR/ATR). The results showed that the fungistatic effects of conifer needles polyolefin composites (CNPCs) were associated w…