Improving the Performance of Bamboo and Eucalyptus Wood fiber/Polypropylene Composites Using Pectinase Pre-treatments. (2nd January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Xiaoping; Xiao, Rui; Morrell, Jeffrey J.; Wu, Zhangkang; Du, Guanben; Wang, Shugang; Zou, Chenggang; Cappellazzi, Jed
• Is Part Of: Journal of wood chemistry and technology. Volume 38:Number 1(2018)
• Page Start: 44
• Page End: 50
• Publication Date: 2018-01-02
• Subjects: Bamboo -- eucalyptus wood -- polypropylene -- pectinase -- MOR -- MOE -- tensile strength; Wood -- Chemistry -- Periodicals; Wood; Wood -- Chemistry; Periodicals; 674.13
• DOI: 10.1080/02773813.2017.1355392
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0277-3813

Abstract

Abstract : The potential for using pectinase as a pre-treatment to improve the properties of bamboo or eucalyptus fibers for use in a woody fiber/polypropylene (PP) composite was compared with the addition of a silane coupling agent or NaOH pre-treatment. Pectinase pre-treatment reduced the amount of pectin in both fibers (p < 0.0001) and this reduction was associated with improved tensile strength, modulus of rupture and modulus of elasticity (p < 0.001) of bamboo, or eucalyptus fiber-based composites. Pre-treatment had no consistent effects on the thickness swell or water absorption. The addition of a coupling agent produced similar improvements in panel properties (p < 0.05), but also markedly reduced moisture absorption and thickness swell (p < 0.05). Sodium hydroxide pre-treatment had no consistent effects on panel properties, although it did appear to affect thickness swell. Short pectinase pre-treatment might be useful for enhancing the properties of woody tissue/PP composites while reducing but not completely eliminating the need for coupling agents.