ZnO Treatment on Mechanical Behavior of Polyethylene/Yellow Birch Fiber Composites When Exposed to Fungal Wood Rot
Wood plastic composite (WPC) usage and demand have increased because of its interesting chemical and mechanical properties compared to other plastic materials. However, there is a possibility of structural and mechanical changes to the material when exposed to the external environment; most research...
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MDPI AG
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Polymers |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/18/3664 |
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| author | Kodjovi Kekeli Agbozouhoue Demagna Koffi Fouad Erchiqui Simon Barnabé |
| author_facet | Kodjovi Kekeli Agbozouhoue Demagna Koffi Fouad Erchiqui Simon Barnabé |
| author_sort | Kodjovi Kekeli Agbozouhoue |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Wood plastic composite (WPC) usage and demand have increased because of its interesting chemical and mechanical properties compared to other plastic materials. However, there is a possibility of structural and mechanical changes to the material when exposed to the external environment; most research on wood plastic is performed on the material with elevated fiber content (40–70%). Therefore, more research needs to be performed regarding these issues, especially when the fiber content of the WPC is low. In this study, composite materials composed of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) reinforced with yellow birch fibers (20 and 30%) were made by injection molding. The fibers were treated with dissolved zinc oxide (ZnO) powder in sodium oxide (NaOH) solution, and the fabricated material was exposed to fungal rot. ZnO treatment in this case is different from most studies because ZnO nanoparticles are usually employed. The main reason was to obtain better fixation of ZnO on the fibers. The mechanical properties of the composites were assessed by the tensile and Izod impact tests. The impact energies of the samples fabricated with ZnO-treated fibers and exposed to <i>Gloephyllum trabeum</i> and <i>Trametes versicolor</i> decreased, when compared to samples fabricated with ZnO-nontreated fibers. The mechanical properties of the samples composed of ZnO-treated fibers and exposed to rot decreased, which were reported by a decreased Young’s modulus and impact energies. The usage of ZnO treatment prevented mycelium proliferation, which was nonexistent on the samples. It has been noted that the decrease in mechanical properties of the treated samples was because of the action of NaOH used to dissolve the ZnO powder. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:12:18Z |
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| issn | 2073-4360 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:12:18Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
| series | Polymers |
| spelling | doaj.art-5bbe80ac2b2048aca4ba7dc582affd1f2023-11-19T12:34:03ZengMDPI AGPolymers2073-43602023-09-011518366410.3390/polym15183664ZnO Treatment on Mechanical Behavior of Polyethylene/Yellow Birch Fiber Composites When Exposed to Fungal Wood RotKodjovi Kekeli Agbozouhoue0Demagna Koffi1Fouad Erchiqui2Simon Barnabé3Innovations Institute in Ecomaterials, Ecoproducts and Ecoenergy (I2E3), Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR), C.P. 500, Trois-Rivières, QC G9A 5H7, CanadaInnovations Institute in Ecomaterials, Ecoproducts and Ecoenergy (I2E3), Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR), C.P. 500, Trois-Rivières, QC G9A 5H7, CanadaLaboratory of Bioplastic and nanomaterials, School of Engineering, Université du Québec en Abitibi Témiscamingue (UQAT), 445 Bd de l’Université, Rouyn-Noranda, QC J9X 5E4, CanadaInnovations Institute in Ecomaterials, Ecoproducts and Ecoenergy (I2E3), Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR), C.P. 500, Trois-Rivières, QC G9A 5H7, CanadaWood plastic composite (WPC) usage and demand have increased because of its interesting chemical and mechanical properties compared to other plastic materials. However, there is a possibility of structural and mechanical changes to the material when exposed to the external environment; most research on wood plastic is performed on the material with elevated fiber content (40–70%). Therefore, more research needs to be performed regarding these issues, especially when the fiber content of the WPC is low. In this study, composite materials composed of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) reinforced with yellow birch fibers (20 and 30%) were made by injection molding. The fibers were treated with dissolved zinc oxide (ZnO) powder in sodium oxide (NaOH) solution, and the fabricated material was exposed to fungal rot. ZnO treatment in this case is different from most studies because ZnO nanoparticles are usually employed. The main reason was to obtain better fixation of ZnO on the fibers. The mechanical properties of the composites were assessed by the tensile and Izod impact tests. The impact energies of the samples fabricated with ZnO-treated fibers and exposed to <i>Gloephyllum trabeum</i> and <i>Trametes versicolor</i> decreased, when compared to samples fabricated with ZnO-nontreated fibers. The mechanical properties of the samples composed of ZnO-treated fibers and exposed to rot decreased, which were reported by a decreased Young’s modulus and impact energies. The usage of ZnO treatment prevented mycelium proliferation, which was nonexistent on the samples. It has been noted that the decrease in mechanical properties of the treated samples was because of the action of NaOH used to dissolve the ZnO powder.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/18/3664<i>Trametes versicolor</i><i>Gloephyllum trabeum</i>myceliumYoung’s moduluszinc oxidecomposite |
| spellingShingle | Kodjovi Kekeli Agbozouhoue Demagna Koffi Fouad Erchiqui Simon Barnabé ZnO Treatment on Mechanical Behavior of Polyethylene/Yellow Birch Fiber Composites When Exposed to Fungal Wood Rot Polymers <i>Trametes versicolor</i> <i>Gloephyllum trabeum</i> mycelium Young’s modulus zinc oxide composite |
| title | ZnO Treatment on Mechanical Behavior of Polyethylene/Yellow Birch Fiber Composites When Exposed to Fungal Wood Rot |
| title_full | ZnO Treatment on Mechanical Behavior of Polyethylene/Yellow Birch Fiber Composites When Exposed to Fungal Wood Rot |
| title_fullStr | ZnO Treatment on Mechanical Behavior of Polyethylene/Yellow Birch Fiber Composites When Exposed to Fungal Wood Rot |
| title_full_unstemmed | ZnO Treatment on Mechanical Behavior of Polyethylene/Yellow Birch Fiber Composites When Exposed to Fungal Wood Rot |
| title_short | ZnO Treatment on Mechanical Behavior of Polyethylene/Yellow Birch Fiber Composites When Exposed to Fungal Wood Rot |
| title_sort | zno treatment on mechanical behavior of polyethylene yellow birch fiber composites when exposed to fungal wood rot |
| topic | <i>Trametes versicolor</i> <i>Gloephyllum trabeum</i> mycelium Young’s modulus zinc oxide composite |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/18/3664 |
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