Effect of weathering on mechanical and physical properties of wood-polyethylene composite containing of titanium dioxide nanoparticles, photo stabilizer and heat treated wood

Weathering of wood plastic composite is of major concerns. Weathering due to UV light and moisture results in the degradation of wood plastic composite. In this study, effect of weathering on mechanical and physical properties of wood-polyethylene composites containing of titanium dioxide nanoparticles, photo stabilizer (tinuvin 328) and heat treated wood were investigated. The variable factors were titanium dioxide nanoparticles content (0, 1, 2 and 3%), raw material type (heat treated wood and untreated wood), tinuvin 328 (0 and 1%) and weathering time (0 and 1500h). The impact of weathering was investigated through the changes in the mechanical properties, contact angle and surface morphology of wood plastic composites. The result shows that flexural strength, tensile strength and contact angle of all samples decreased after weathering. Also, surface cracks on the weathered composites were observed with a scan electron microscope. According to the results, wood plastic composites containing titanium dioxide nanoparticles, heat treated wood and tinuvin 328 (photo stabilizer) showed less loss of mechanical properties and contact angle and fewer surface cracks after weathering compared to control sample.