EFFECTS OF INORGANIC NANOPARTICLES ON MECHANICAL AND MORPHOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF WOOD FLOUR-POLYPROPYLENE NANO COMPOSITES

This research was conducted to examine the effect of SiO2 and TiO2, nanoparticles on the mechanical and morphological properties of wood flour-polypropylene nanocomposites. For this purpose, 60 (wt.%) wood flour was mixed with polypropylene. 4% malefic anhydride polypropylene was also used in all the compounds as a coupling agent. In addition, SiO2, and TiO2 nanoparticles were used as mineral fillers at 0, 1, 3 and 5%. The mixing process was performed inside an extruder and the test specimens were prepared by injection molding method. Bending and tensile tests were then performed on the specimens according to the ASTM standard. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was also used to show the distribution of nanoparticles over the composite substrate. The results showed that the composites containing nano-SiO2, had more favorable mechanical properties compared to those containing nano-TiO2. On the other hand, increasing the nanoparticles from 0 to 3% led to an increase in mechanical strength, however; the addition of more nano-fillers resulted in a significant decrease in mechanical strength. The results of SEMI also showed a proper dispersion of nanoparticles at I and 3% levels, but using 5% nanoparticles caused the particles to aggregate on the composite substrate.