Treesearch

Investigations have continued for production high performance agro-based composites using environmentally acceptable approaches. This study examines the role of adding amide-containing biopolymers during synthesis of urea–formaldehyde (UF) on properties of adhesive produced, especially its adhesion potential. The environmental performance of UF-resin synthesized in the presence of modified amide-containing biopolymer was evaluated by evaluating the free-HCHO of both adhesive (during processing) and of the eventual engineered composite product. Also, the benefits of this synthesis-modified...

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of oxalic acid (OA) wood chips pretreatment prior to refining, which is done to reduce energy used during the refining process. Selected mechanical and physical performances of medium-density fiberboard (MDF) – internal bonding (IB), modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR), water absorption (WA) and thickness swelling (TS) – made from this OA-pretreated wood were tested and the effect of the OA treatment on carbohydrates investigated. The results showed that the OA treatment significantly reduced refining energy...

Sealants play an important role in weatherproofing structures by filling gaps and preventing air and water intrusion. When incorrectly selected or improperly applied, they may fail quickly, compromising durability of the structure. To ensure reliability and prevent the need for costly repairs to structures, it is necessary to measure durability and predict life expectancy of sealants. Our approach to these challenges is to conduct accelerated testing per designed parameters to populate a predictive model and test this model via outdoor aging with prescribed cyclic displacements and in situ...

Microelectronics and the devices dependent upon them have the extremely challenging requirements of becoming more capable and less expensive every year. This drives the industry to pack more functions into an ever smaller footprint until the next technological revolution. Adding to this situation is the removal of lead from the bill of materials followed closely by efforts to remove halogens. One result of this cycle and materials changes is new modes of device failure that lead root cause investigations back to the basics of chip fabrication (fab) and packaging processes and materials....

The thermal transitions of the amorphous polymers in wheat straw were investigated using dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA). The study included both natural and solvent extracted wheat straw, in moist (8–9% water content) and dry conditions, and was compared to spruce samples. Under these conditions two transitions arising from the glass transition of lignin and hemicelluloses have been identified. Key transitions attributed to softening of lignin were found at 53, 63 and 91 �C for moist samples of wheat straw, extracted straw and spruce, respectively. Transitions for hemicelluloses...

This study examined the effect coextruding a clear HDPE cap layer onto HDPE/wood-flour composites has on the discoloration of coextruded composites exposed to accelerated UV tests. Chroma meter, FTIRATR, XPS, SEM, and UV vis measurements accounted for the analysis of discoloration, functional groups, and degree of oxidation of both uncapped (control) and coextruded composites before and after UV exposures. Two separate discoloration characteristics occurred in the discoloration of composites. For uncapped WPCs (control), chemical changes due to photooxidation resulted in darkening followed...

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) resin is one of the most widely used thermoplastics, especially in packaging. Because thermal and hydrolytic degradations, recycled PET (RPET) exhibits poor mechanical properties and lacks moldability. The effects of adding elastomeric modifiers, chain extenders (CE), and poly(butylenes adipate-co-terephthalate), PBAT, as a toughener to RPET on its moldability and mechanical property were investigated. Melt blending of RPET with CE, thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), and/or PBAT was performed in a thermokinetic mixer (K-mixer). The blended materials were then...

Though silane chemistry has been used to crosslink unfilled polyethylene for many years, such crosslinking has only been recently applied to wood plastic composites to improve properties such as creep resistance. However, the presence of wood significantly changes the silane chemistry and a greater understanding is necessary for optimal processing and performance. We investigated three different approaches of adding silane and peroxide during reactive extrusion of wood-plastic composites were investigated and compared to their unfilled counterparts. Up to 2 grams of a 20:1 solution of...

The influence of 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate and benzoyl peroxide on gel content, crystallinity, and mechanical performance of unfilled PP-PE blends, and their composites with wood was investigated. All materials were compounded in a twin screw extruder and then injection molded. Specimens were then exposed to high-humidity and elevated temperature in a humidity chamber to cross-link any unhydrolyzed silane. Adding wood to the PE-PP blends, increased premature cross-linking but also increased gel contents. However, the gel contents of the composites were still low. The PP...

Building on our laboratory-scale optimization, oxalic acid was used to pretreat corncobs on the pilotscale. The hydrolysate obtained after washing the pretreated biomass contained 32.55 g/l of xylose, 2.74 g/l of glucose and low concentrations of inhibitors. Ethanol production, using Scheffersomyces stipitis, from this hydrolysate was 10.3 g/l, which approached the predicted value of 11.9 g/l. Diafiltration using a membrane system effectively reduced acetic acid in the hydrolysate, which increased the fermentation rate. The hemicellulose content of the recovered solids decreased from...