Fabrication and Mechanical Properties of Glass Fiber-Reinforced Wood Plastic Hybrid Composites

To fully utilize the resource in the municipal solid waste (MSW) and improve the strength and toughness of wood plastic composites, glass fiber (GF)-reinforced wood plastic hybrid composites (GWPCs) were prepared through compounding of recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE) from MSW, waste wood fibers, and chopped GF. Mechanical tests of GWPCs specimens with varying amounts of GF content were carried Out and the impact fractured surface of GWPCs was observed through scanning electron microscope (SEM). The tensile strength of GWPCs and the efficiency coefficient values were predicted by Kelly-Tyson method. The results indicated that the tensile strength and impact strength of GWPCs could be improved simultaneously by adding type L chopped GF (L-GF), and would be dropped down when type S chopped GF (S-GF) was included. The tensile strength of GWPCs was well accordant with the experimental result. The efficiency coefficient values of S-GF and L-GF are -0.19 and 0.63, respectively. Inspection of SEM micrographs indicated that L-GF had achieved full adhesion with the plastic matrix through addition of maleic anhydride-g-polyethylene. The main fracture modes of GWPCs included pullout of GF, broken of matrix, and interfacial debonding. Because of the synergistic effects between hybrid components in GF/wood fiber/HDPE hybrid system, a special 3D network microstructure was formed, which was the main contribution to the significant improvement in the tensile strength and impact strength of L-GF-reinforced hybrid composites. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 112: 1250-1257, 2009