Effect of PVA-co-MMA Copolymer on the Physical, Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Tropical Wood Materials

• Main Authors: Md. Saiful, Islam, Sinin, Hamdan, Mansor B., Ahmad, Mahbub, Hasan, Azman, Hassan, M. K. Mohamad, Haafiz, M., Jawaid
• Format: E-Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hindawi Publishing Corporation 2014
• Subjects: TJ Mechanical engineering and machinery
• Online Access: http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/9184/1/Effect%20of%20PVA-co-MMA%20Copolymer%20on%20the%20Physical%2C%20Mechanical%20and%20Thermal%20Properties%20of%20Tropical%20Wood%20Materials%20%28abstract%29.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/9184/; http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/626850
• Institution: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

The present study demonstrates the effect of copolymer on the physical, mechanical and thermal properties of tropical wood and wood polymer composites (WPC). Mixed monomers of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) were effectively impregnated into the cellular structure of several types of tropical wood, which then underwent a catalyst-thermal process to polymerize and form WPC. The manufacturing of WPC was confirmed through fouirer tranform infared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) analysis. The SEM observation showed that polymer converted from monomers filled up wood cell cavities and tightly interacted with wood matrix. The X-Ray diffraction results reveal that the degree of crystallnity was significantly improved upon impregnation with PVA-co-MMA copolymer. The modulus of elasticity (MOE) and compressive modulus were found to be significantly higher after treatment with MMA/PVA indicating improvement of mechanical properties of the wood samples. In addition, the modified WPC had lower water absorption compared to their corresponding raw samples. It is intersting to note that thermalgravimetric (TGA) analysis shows an extensive improvement in thermal properties of WPC.