Effects of nano zinc oxide and zinc borate on the durability of wood flour/HDPE composite

Document Type : Complete scientific research article

Abstract

In this study, the efficiency of nano-zinc oxide and zinc borate with four mixing ratios of 0, 1, 2, 4 wt% on the biodegradation resistance of wood plastic composite (containing 50 and 70 wt% wood flour) were investigated. Briefly, the composite samples were manufactured using internal mixer and compression molding, followed by exposing to the white rot fungus, Trametes versicolor.
The obtained results indicated that no significant weight loss happened in composites containing zinc borate. But, the addition of nano zinc oxide with loading fraction of 2 and 4% to the structure of composites containing 50 and 70 percent wood, significantly reduced weight loss. In the composites containing 50% wood, the results of flexural strength loss matched with weight loss at the end of the decay experiment, while the composites containing 70% wood, the flexural strength loss was not in good agreement with the results of the weight loss.

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