Weathering and biodegradation effects in wood-plastic composites (WPC) made with zinc borate

Authors

  • Aldo Joao Cárdenas Oscanoa Departamento de Industrias Forestales, Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina. Lima, Perú
  • Francisco Javier Fuentes Talavera Departamento de Madera, Celulosa y Papel, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Exactas e Ingenierías, Universidad de Guadalajara. Jalisco, México
  • Jorge Ramón Robledo Ortiz Departamento de Madera, Celulosa y Papel, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Exactas e Ingenierías, Universidad de Guadalajara. Jalisco, México
  • Juan Carlos Meza Contreras Departamento de Madera, Celulosa y Papel, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Exactas e Ingenierías, Universidad de Guadalajara. Jalisco, México
  • Ricardo Gonzáles Cruz Departamento de Madera, Celulosa y Papel, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Exactas e Ingenierías, Universidad de Guadalajara. Jalisco, México

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29298/rmcf.v12i63.801

Keywords:

Biodegradation, wood plastic-composite, weathering, physical properties, mechanical properties, fungal rots

Abstract

The effects of zinc borate (ZB) on physical and mechanical properties of wood plastic composites (WPCs) were assessed. WPCs were elaborated with 0, 1, 3, y 5 % ZB concentrations, wood flour, mesh 60 and polypropylene in 50/48, 50/47, 50/45 y 50/43 proportions as a function of ZB concentration. 2 % of maleic anhydride of polypropylene (MAPP) was included in all WPCS. Specimens were exposed to natural weathering for 6 months. Bioassays with the fungi Gleophyllum trabeum (brown rot) and Trametes versicolor (white rot) were conducted by means of agar (EN 350-1) and soil block (ASTM D 2017-05) tests. Moreover, water absorption and swelling as well as static bending, tensile strength and impact strength were evaluated. Other properties like surface brightness and morphological characterization by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were also considered. Zinc borate has no effect on mechanical properties of the untreated WPCS. After weathering, ZB had no effect on static bending and impact strength. However, a positive effect on tensile strength was observed. ZB had a positive influence on impact strength of WPCS exposed to biodegradation by fungi. Regardless of the low decay rates, ZB proved effective against fungal decay; weight losses suffered by WPC specimens exposed in agar and soil block tests showed no significant differences.

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Published

2020-12-18

How to Cite

Cárdenas Oscanoa, Aldo Joao, Francisco Javier Fuentes Talavera, Jorge Ramón Robledo Ortiz, Juan Carlos Meza Contreras, and Ricardo Gonzáles Cruz. 2020. “Weathering and Biodegradation Effects in Wood-Plastic Composites (WPC) Made With Zinc Borate”. Revista Mexicana De Ciencias Forestales 12 (63). México, ME. https://doi.org/10.29298/rmcf.v12i63.801.

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Section

Scientific article