The effect of chemical modification of wood flour on natural durability, thermal and morphological properties of Wood Plastic Composite against Trametes Versicolor

The aim of this research was study about of natural durability of Wood Plastic Composites with modified wood flour. Chemical modification of wood flour in 4 levels without treatment, Mercerization, Benzylation and Acetylation as variables of this research were considered. Process of material mixing performed by extruder machine and the test samples with way of injection molding were made. The test samples at periods of 8, 12 and 16 week in the vicinity of Trametes Versicolor with a temperature of 25 ° C and 75% relative humidity according to the BS 838: 1961 standard respectively. Mass reduction of composite and wood flour as well as the reduction of test criteria was measured. In order to ensure the chemical modification of wood flour and to know the amount of wood flour by chemical reaction respectively of tests of infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Weight Percent Change (WPG) were used. Thermal properties of Wood Plastic Composites at different levels of decay analysis (TGA) were performed. To study the morphology of composites made from Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) was used. The results showed that the effect of chemical modification of wood flour, mass reduction of Wood Plastic Composites and mass reduction of wood flour decreased. So that the best mechanism of chemical modification in controlling decays, was Acetylation treatment. The most percentage of weight changes was related to Benzylation treatment. The results of the thermal properties of Wood Plastic Composites showed that with the increasing decay was a sharp drop in thermal properties. The results of infrared spectroscopy perform chemical modification of wood flour confirmed. Microscopic images showed that with increasing time of decay, was added to the cracks and gaps in the composites but in effect of chemical modification, especially in the treatment of Acetylation and Benzylation the cracks are significantly reduced.