Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
8917081 | South African Journal of Chemical Engineering | 2017 | 22 Pages |
Abstract
We demonstrated the formulation of wood plastic composite (WPC) materials with flexural strength of 13.69 ± 0.09 MPa for applications in outdoor fencing using municipal waste precursors like low density polyethylene (LDPE) plastics (54.0 wt. %), sawn wood dust with particle size between 64 and 500 μm derived from variable hardwood species (36.0 wt. %) and used automotive engine oil (10 wt. %). The WPC panels were prepared by pre-compounding, extruding at a screw auger torque of 79.8 Nm and pressing through a rectangular mould of dimension 132 mm Ã 37 mm Ã 5 mm at temperature 150 °C. The efficacy of black waste oil, as a coupling agent, was demonstrated by the absence of voids and pull-outs on microscopic examination using scanning electron microscopy. No hazardous substances were exhaled during thermo-gravimetric mass spectrometry analysis. The percentage crystallinity of the LDPE in the as-prepared material determined by differential scanning calorimetry was 11.3%.
Keywords
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Chemical Engineering (General)
Authors
Maame Adwoa Bentumah Animpong, William Owusu Oduro, Joyce Koranteng, Kofi Ampomah-Benefo, Gloria Boafo-Mensah, Kisiedu Akufo-Kumi, Godfred Ofotsu Tottimeh, Joseph Yao Amoah,