Agbozouhoue, K.K.; Koffi, D.; Erchiqui, F.; Barnabé, S. ZnO Treatment on Mechanical Behavior of Polyethylene/Yellow Birch Fiber Composites When Exposed to Fungal Wood Rot. Polymers2023, 15, 3664.
Agbozouhoue, K.K.; Koffi, D.; Erchiqui, F.; Barnabé, S. ZnO Treatment on Mechanical Behavior of Polyethylene/Yellow Birch Fiber Composites When Exposed to Fungal Wood Rot. Polymers 2023, 15, 3664.
Agbozouhoue, K.K.; Koffi, D.; Erchiqui, F.; Barnabé, S. ZnO Treatment on Mechanical Behavior of Polyethylene/Yellow Birch Fiber Composites When Exposed to Fungal Wood Rot. Polymers2023, 15, 3664.
Agbozouhoue, K.K.; Koffi, D.; Erchiqui, F.; Barnabé, S. ZnO Treatment on Mechanical Behavior of Polyethylene/Yellow Birch Fiber Composites When Exposed to Fungal Wood Rot. Polymers 2023, 15, 3664.
Abstract
Wood plastic composite usage and demands have increased due to chemical, and mechanical properties when compared to plastic materials. However, because of the possibility of structural and mechanical changes of the material when exposed to external environment more research needs to be done. In the present study yellow birch/HDPE composites materials made by injection molding were treated by zinc oxide and exposed to fungal rots. Mechanical properties of the composites were assessed by Tensile and Izod impact test. The impact energies of the samples loaded with 30 % ZnO-treated fibers and exposed to G. trabeum and T. versicolor decreased, compared to when samples were not treated with ZnO. The mechanical properties of all samples treated with ZnO and exposed to rot decreased which were reported as a decreased Young's modulus and impact energies. ZnO prevented mycelium proliferation which was nonexistent on samples. It has been noted that the decrease in mechanical properties of treated samples was due to NaOH used to dissolve the ZnO powder.
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