Hydrophilic-Hydrophobic Characteristics of Wood-Polymer Composites Filled with Modified Wood Particles

In this study, hydrophobic-hydrophilic characteristics, including contact angle and moisture sorption of a modified wood filler and the wood-polymer composites (WPC) containing it was investigated. The wood filler obtained from aspen sawdust was modified by mild acid hydrolysis and by ammoxidation. Contact angles of the wood particles and the WPC samples were measured with Kruss K100M using the Washburn and Wilhelmy methods, respectively. Work of adhesion was calculated using Young-Dupre equation. Surface free energy as well as its dispersive and polar parts were found using Owens-Wendt-Rabel-Kaelble approach. It was found that the hydrolysis and the ammoxidation led to decrease of the hemicelluloses content in the lignocellulosic matrix. Beside this, the ammoxidation favours the formation of amide bonds in the ammoxidised particles. These changes enhanced the contact angles, decreased the work of adhesion, and decreased surface free energy of the WPC samples filled with the modified particles in comparison with the WPC sample that contained the unmodified ones. The treatment of the wood particles decreased the wettability towards water, but increased it towards recycled polypropylene. This positively effects mechanical properties of the samples.