Toughening of Wood/Poly(vinyl chloride) Composites by Using Ultrafine Rubber Particles: Mechanical and Rheological Investigations

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to enhance the toughness of richly-filled wood plastic composites (WPC) by using ultrafine acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) particles. The WPC was prepared by using poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC) matrix filled with Iron wood (Xylia xylocarpa) flour at 40 phr (WPC40) and 60 phr (WPC60). To enhance the impact strength, various contents of the ultrafine NBR were incorporated as an impact modifier from 1-11 phr. Experimental results indicated that the NBR toughened-WPCs were tougher than that of the unmodified ones, by increasing the tensile elongation at break. The impact strength of the WPCs modified with only 5 phr of NBR was notably enhanced around 26 and 7% for WPC40 and WPC60 respectively. Rheological results revealed that the ultrafine NBR functioned not only as an impact modifier but also as a processing aid with shorter processing time and lower melt torque.