Production of Wood Polymer Composite from African Copaiba Balsam (Daniella oliveri) Wood Dust : Effects of Wood Dust Particle Size Distribution and Contents

Abstract

ABSTRACT

This thesis explore the effects of wood dust particle size distribution and contents on the functional properties of wood plastic composites WPCs prepared from virgin high density poly-ethylene (vHDPE) and dilute sodium hydroxide (NaOH) treated African Copaiba Balsam (Daniella oliveri) wood dusts via compression moulding technique. Changes in the structure and the properties of WPCs resulting from variation in daniella oliveri wood dusts particle size distribution and contents were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) as well as physical and mechanical tests. Findings from this study suggested that appropriate choice of the wood particle size distribution and contents improved interactions between the dust and the vHDPE matrix. It could be inferred from this study that the mechanical, physical and micro-structural properties of the WPCs were optimised when dilute NaOH treated daniella oliveri wood dusts of particle size distribution and contents of +300-425µm and 35wt% respectively were blended with vHDPE matrix at 1600C when the pressure was 3.05 MPa within 5 seconds.. Mechanical properties of WPCs obtained from this study indicated that engineering items such as television frames for household applications could be produced with the optimised daniella oliveri wood dusts characteristics.