Statistical experimental design and modeling of polypropylene–wood fiber composites

• Published in: Polymer testing Vol. 19; no. 4; pp. 419 - 428
• Main Authors: Costa, Thais H.S, Carvalho, Daisy L, Souza, Denise C.S, Coutinho, Fernanda M.B, Pinto, José Carlos, Kokta, Bohuslav V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2000; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Composites; Exact sciences and technology; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Technology of polymers; Statistical analysis; Thermoplastics; Wood fiber; Propylene polymer; Fiber reinforced material; Mechanical properties; Organic silane; Tensile property; Organic anhydride; Experimental study; Property processing relationship; Empirical model; Functional polymer; Composite material; Surface treatment; Coupling agent; Bending strength
• ISSN: 0142-9418; 1873-2348
• DOI: 10.1016/S0142-9418(99)00014-8

The influence of the amount of maleated polypropylene coating of vinyl-tris (2-methoxy ethoxy) silane treated wood-fibers (2 or 10 wt%), type of matrix (polypropylene or maleated polypropylene) and composition (10, 20 or 30 wt%) on the tensile and flexural performance of polypropylene–wood fiber composites was studied. The effect of these variables on tensile strength, Young's modulus, elongation at yield and flexural strength was determined through a 22·31 factorial design. The analysis of variance of the experimental and predicted data shows that the constructed models provide a fair approximation of actual experimental measurements. Finally, experimental details regarding the preparation of optimum composites as predicted by empirical models are discussed.