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Abstract
In the view of producing environmentally friendly materials without compromising properties, new composites containing polypropylene as a matrix and eucalyptus wood, with or without 15% of polylactic acid, were melt processed. In order to improve compatibility between components, a chemical modification of wood with toluene-2,4-diisocyanate (TDI) was realized and evidenced by changes in FT-IR and XPS spectra. The morphological, mechanical, and thermal characterizations of the obtained composites were evaluated before and after accelerating weathering. The results showed that the material comprising 15% TDI-modified wood, PP, and 15% PLA exhibited the best properties.
Acknowledgments
This research was financially supported by European Social Fund “Cristofor I. Simionescu” Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme (IDPOSDRU/89/1.5/S/55216), Sectoral Operational Programme Human Resources Development 2007–2013.
Notes
T cc : Cold crystallization temperature (for samples containing PLA); T m : melting temperature; ΔH m : melting enthalpy; X c : crystallinity index; T cr : crystallization temperature (during cooling); ΔH cr : crystallization enthalpy.