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Method development for characterization and optimization of fiber treatment in novel wood plastic composite (WPC)

Jönsson, Emma LU (2021) KASM15 20211
Centre for Analysis and Synthesis
Abstract
Fossil-based resources for plastic production is growingly being challenged by renewable material in applications such as wood-plastic composites. One company dedicated to contribute to this transition is Bio Fiber Tech AB (BFT) who have patented a novel treatment of the wood component for improved compatibility with the polymer matrix. This thesis was in collaboration with BFT with the aim to characterize the wood fiber component of the composite.

The WPC is made in three steps, pulping, compounding, and compression or injection moulding. Treatments of fibers are executed in either a pre-treatment or during compounding. This project includes the technology by which wood-plastic composites are conventionally made with focus on the... (More)
Fossil-based resources for plastic production is growingly being challenged by renewable material in applications such as wood-plastic composites. One company dedicated to contribute to this transition is Bio Fiber Tech AB (BFT) who have patented a novel treatment of the wood component for improved compatibility with the polymer matrix. This thesis was in collaboration with BFT with the aim to characterize the wood fiber component of the composite.

The WPC is made in three steps, pulping, compounding, and compression or injection moulding. Treatments of fibers are executed in either a pre-treatment or during compounding. This project includes the technology by which wood-plastic composites are conventionally made with focus on the coupling treatments applied at the company. A radical polymerization for grafting monomers onto the fiber backbone is applied to increase hydrophobicity of fibers to make them more dispersible with the plastic component of the composite. Of special interest was quantification of unreacted monomer after treatment. Unreacted monomer can be used to screen what treatment systems are most successful, and to apply large scale at BFTs costumers during processing. Moreover, the same method can be used to look for residual monomer in the final composite, which is important for application safety.

A method for quantifying residual monomer from a fiber treatment was developed, using mainly nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and gas chromatography (GC). Said methods were subsequently used to analyze 21 samples to analyze relationship between treatment chemicals, pH and moisture content on amount of residual monomer. Additional methods were used to confirm validity of quantitative methods. Lastly a general investigation of what is needed to provide compliance to safety regulations was compiled and put into relation with findings from this thesis. (Less)
Popular Abstract (Swedish)
I västvärlden använder vi dagligen plastprodukter och det är svårt att föreställa sig en tillvaro utan plast, som idag är oumbärliga över ett brett spektrum av applikationer. Resulterande problem inkluderar nedskräpning, mikroplaster och global uppvärmning som ett direkt resultat av den fossila råvaran, som dessutom inte är en förnybar resurs. Nya typer av material som kan ersätta den fossila plasten är ett högst relevant ämne, och en kandidat som redan gjort sig ett namn på marknaden är biokompositer som består av en betydande proportion växtbaserat material. Det växtbaserade materialet kan ha varierande ursprung, varav en lösning är träfibrer som är en biprodukt från trä- och pappersmassa-industrin.

Detta projektet resulterar ur ett... (More)
I västvärlden använder vi dagligen plastprodukter och det är svårt att föreställa sig en tillvaro utan plast, som idag är oumbärliga över ett brett spektrum av applikationer. Resulterande problem inkluderar nedskräpning, mikroplaster och global uppvärmning som ett direkt resultat av den fossila råvaran, som dessutom inte är en förnybar resurs. Nya typer av material som kan ersätta den fossila plasten är ett högst relevant ämne, och en kandidat som redan gjort sig ett namn på marknaden är biokompositer som består av en betydande proportion växtbaserat material. Det växtbaserade materialet kan ha varierande ursprung, varav en lösning är träfibrer som är en biprodukt från trä- och pappersmassa-industrin.

Detta projektet resulterar ur ett samarbete med ett företag som skapat en ny sorts ytmodifiering av träkomponenten i denna typ av komposit. Modifieringen ökar kompabiliteten mellan fibrerna och plasten så att de blir lättare att producera, samt förbättrar de mekaniska egenskaper hos det slutliga materialet.

Genom projektet har en metod för att bedömma modifieringarnas framgång utvecklats med syfte att kunna användas under produktion. Med samma metod har ett antal olika modifieringar testats för att kunna föreslå möjliga förbättringar av nuvarande behandling av fibrerna. Vidare har en generell utredning gjorts över säkerhetsaspekter kopplat till behandlingens kemiska innehåll. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Jönsson, Emma LU
supervisor
organization
course
KASM15 20211
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
wood plastic composite, polymer technology, material science, renewable
language
English
id
9059391
date added to LUP
2021-06-29 15:48:36
date last changed
2021-06-29 15:48:36
@misc{9059391,
  abstract     = {{Fossil-based resources for plastic production is growingly being challenged by renewable material in applications such as wood-plastic composites. One company dedicated to contribute to this transition is Bio Fiber Tech AB (BFT) who have patented a novel treatment of the wood component for improved compatibility with the polymer matrix. This thesis was in collaboration with BFT with the aim to characterize the wood fiber component of the composite.

The WPC is made in three steps, pulping, compounding, and compression or injection moulding. Treatments of fibers are executed in either a pre-treatment or during compounding. This project includes the technology by which wood-plastic composites are conventionally made with focus on the coupling treatments applied at the company. A radical polymerization for grafting monomers onto the fiber backbone is applied to increase hydrophobicity of fibers to make them more dispersible with the plastic component of the composite. Of special interest was quantification of unreacted monomer after treatment. Unreacted monomer can be used to screen what treatment systems are most successful, and to apply large scale at BFTs costumers during processing. Moreover, the same method can be used to look for residual monomer in the final composite, which is important for application safety.

A method for quantifying residual monomer from a fiber treatment was developed, using mainly nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and gas chromatography (GC). Said methods were subsequently used to analyze 21 samples to analyze relationship between treatment chemicals, pH and moisture content on amount of residual monomer. Additional methods were used to confirm validity of quantitative methods. Lastly a general investigation of what is needed to provide compliance to safety regulations was compiled and put into relation with findings from this thesis.}},
  author       = {{Jönsson, Emma}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Method development for characterization and optimization of fiber treatment in novel wood plastic composite (WPC)}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}