Use of Natural and Synthetic Fibers as Co-Reinforcing Agents on Abrasive Wear Behavior and Flexural Strength of Wood/PVC Composites

Abstract:

ncorporations of synthetic fiber into wood polyvinyl chloride composites (WPVC) were investigated for the effect of co-reinforcing fillers on wear behavior of WPVC materials. Physical and mechanical properties of the composites were also analyzed and discussed in association with wear behavior of co-reinforced WPVC. Three different types of synthetic fibers, namely, E-glass fiber, S-glass fiber and Carbon fiber, having an average fiber length of 3 mm, were used to study the effect of type of synthetic fiber. The concentration of synthetic fiber was varied from 0-20 pph in the WPVC composites. Natural wood flour with an average particle size of less than 250 micron was introduced into the PVC compound at a fixed concentration of 40 pph to produce the WPVC composites. Various kinds of wood flour, including, Xylia Kerri Craib & Hutch (XK), Hevea Brasiliensis Linn (HB) and Mangifera Indica Linn (MI), were also studied for the influence of wood type. Wear behavior of the composites was employed by monitoring the specific wear rate at different sliding distances (2.0 and 4.0 km), using Taber wear tester. The results found that flexural properties of the composites were improved by addition of synthetic fibers. The carbon fiber-co reinforced WPVC composites showed the highest flexural properties. Among natural wood types used, the co-reinforced WPVC with HB exhibited the most improvement of flexural properties, particularly when higher loading of the synthetic fiber. It was observed that addition of synthetic fiber can enhance wear resistance of materials, the effect being more pronounced at the higher sliding distance (4 km). S-glass fiber-co reinforced WPVC with XK showed the best wear resistance property and the optimum concentration of S-glass fiber used was 10 pph.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 747)
• Pages: 347-350
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.747.347
• Online since: August 2013
• Authors: Parichat Yotkaew, Narongrit Sombatsompop, Apisit Kositchaiyong, Ekachai Wimolmala
• Keywords: Composite, Poly(vinyl chloride), Reinforcing Agent, Wear Behavior, Wood Fiber

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