Title: Creep behaviour of HDPE/wood particle composites

Authors: Hassine Bouafif; Ahmed Koubaa; Patrick Perré; Alain Cloutier

Addresses: Centre Technologique des Résidus Industriels, 425 BD du Collège, Rouyn-Noranda (QC) Canada, J9X5E5 ' Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, 445 BD de l'Université, Rouyn-Noranda, (QC) Canada, J9X5E4 ' Ecole Centrale Paris, Laboratoire de Génie des Procédés et Matériaux, Grande Voie des Vignes – 92295, CHATENAY-MALABRY, Cedex, France ' Centre de Recherche sur le Bois, Université Laval, Pavillon Eugène-Kruger, Québec, G1K7P4, (QC) Canada

Abstract: The effect of particle type, size, content and manufacturing process on the creep behaviour of wood particles/High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) composites has been investigated. Short-term creep tests at different temperatures were carried out and modelled using the Bürger's model and the Findley power law. The creep of the composites was found to increase with temperature due to the mobility of the amorphous bulk and tie HDPE molecules. Increased wood particle content generally decreased the creep level. Jack pine composites exhibited the highest creep reduction due to the chemical composition of the fibres surface and the efficiency of adhesion mechanism between fibres and the HDPE. Injection and compression processes led to better creep behaviour than the extrusion process due to differences in the composites microstructures. Particle size did not show important impacts on the creep properties. Findley power law led to better prediction of long time creep behaviour of the composites.

Keywords: wood plastic composites; creep behaviour; particle content; particle size; Bürger model; Findley model; injection moulding; extrusion; compression moulding; modelling; particle type; wood particles; high density polyethylene; HDPE; microstructure.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMMP.2013.055385

International Journal of Microstructure and Materials Properties, 2013 Vol.8 No.3, pp.225 - 238

Published online: 02 Jan 2014 *

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