Water absorption of Wood Plastic Composite and Biopolymer reinforced with Switchgrass-fiber Biocomposite Materials

Biocomposites have become widely used materials these days. Due to their light weight and ability to be tailored for specific end uses they have gained a considerable ground in the high performance applications, such as aerospace and automobile industry. However, the use of polymers that can be recycled with carbon and other niche fibers renders the composite non-recyclable. The objective of this present research work was to study the resistance of the Biocomposite and Wood Plastic Composite materials to water. A Biocomposite made up of biopolymer reinforced with switchgrass fibers and a WPC prepared from High density polyethylene reinforced with wood flour fillers were studied for the water absorption behaviour at three different temperatures were evaluated. In addition, density changes, dimensional stability and acoustic properties of the WPC and switchgrss/biopolymer composite were evaluated.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.Sc.

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Grantor

University of Windsor

Year dc:date.issued

2011

Author dc:creator

• Venukadasula, Ganesh Muralidhar

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Maeva, Elena Yu

Contributors dc:contributor

• olsenc@uwindsor.ca

Licence

• http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en_CA

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14776/7306

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:uwindsor.scholaris.ca:20.500.14776/7306