The fungus gnats of North America, part II

Abstract

High density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP) and poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) with Phragmites karka wood flour (WF) and polyethylene-co-glycidyl methacrylate (PE-co-GMA) was used to develop wood polymer composite (WPC) by solution blending method. The effect of addition of nanoclay and TiO 2 on the properties of the composite was examined. The exfoliation of silicate layers and dispersion of TiO 2 nanopowder was studied by X-ray diffractometry and transmission electron microscopy. The improvement in miscibility among polymers due to addition of compati-bilizer was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). WPC treated with 3 phr each of clay and TiO 2 showed an improvement in thermal stability. Mechanical, UV resistance and flame retarding properties were also enhanced after the incorporation of clay/TiO 2 nanopowder to the composites. Both water and water vapor absorption were found to decrease due to inclusion of nanoclay and TiO 2 in WPC.