WOOD RESEARCH Volume 61, Number 6, 2016
Alperen Kaymakci, Nadir Ayrilmis, and Huseyin Akkilic

Utilization of tinder fungus as filler in production of HDPe/wood composite

Selected physical and mechanical properties of high density polyethylene (HDPE) composites filled with various mixtures of wood flour and tinder fungus (Fomes fomentarius) were investigated. For this aim, different mixtures of tinder fungus flour and wood flour (0/40, 10/30, 20/20, and 30/10, and 40/0) (by weight) were compounded with HDPE with a coupling agent (maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene (MAPE) in a twin screw co-rotating extruder. The test specimens were produced by injection moulding machine. The thickness swelling and water absorption of the HDPE/wood composites significantly decreased with increasing content of the tinder fungus flour. The mechanical properties of the composites were negatively affected by increasing amount of tinder fungus flour but there were no significant differences up to 30 wt % tinder fungus content, except for the tensile strength. The optimum physical and mechanical properties for the filled HDPE composites were found to be a 10/30/60/3 formulation of wood flour, tinder fungus, HDPE, and MAPE, respectively.

WOOD RESEARCH Volume 61, Number 4, 2016
Vlastimil Borůvka, Aleš Zeidler, and Stanislav Doubek

Impact of silicon-based chemicals on selected physical and mechanical properties of wood

This study deals with the impact of silicon-based chemicals on selected physical and mechanical properties of wood. Wood of European beech and Scots pine was the testing material used for impregnation using water glass and commercial product Lukofob EVO 50. The impact of the treatment on dimensional stability, bending strength and modulus of elasticity was tested. Wood density was also evaluated. Although the modification using silicon-based staffs resulted in a statistically significant decrease in swelling for both of the tested species, the positive effect of the treatment was accompanied by a decrease in the strength and stiffness of wood. Water glass had a stronger effect on the tested properties from the chemicals we used in our research.

WOOD RESEARCH Volume 63, Number 5, 2018
N.N. Sibiya, M.J. Mochane, T.E. Motaung, L.Z. Linganiso, and S.P. Hlangothi

Morphology and properties of sugarcane bagasse cellulose- natural rubber composites

This study investigated the mechanically treated sugarcane bagasse cellulose / natural rubber composites. The novelty of this work is based on sugarcane bagasse treated by supermass colloider and an acidification. Properties such as morphology, solvent uptake, diffusion coefficient, transport mechanism, and thermal stability of vulcanised natural rubber (RB) and its composites were investigated. The acid and mechanical treatment showed less aggregates in the composites than bagasse cellulose composite. The transportation mechanism of solvent diffusion suggested that irregular particles are responsible for solvent absorptions. The composites generally showed reduction in swelling rate which was attributed to tortuosity of the path and reduced transport area in the composites compared to neat natural rubber. There was a decrease in the thermal properties of natural rubber with the addition of the reinforcing fillers.