Effects of chemical modification of wood particles with glutaraldehyde and 1,3-dimethylol-4,5-dihydroxyethyleneurea on properties of the resulting polypropylene composites

Both glutaraldehyde (GA) and 1,3-dimethylol-4,5-dihydroxyethyleneurea (DMDHEU) can crosslink the cell wall polymers and dimensionally stabilize wood particles and the treated wood particles are thus expected to enhance the properties of the resulting wood particle/polypropylene composites. Compared to the composites filled with untreated particles, treatments of wood particles with both GA and DMDHEU showed a great reduction in water uptake and dimensional swelling of the resulting composites up to 39% and 46%, respectively. Both the flexural and tensile moduli increased due to wood particles treatments with GA and DMDHEU. Treatments of wood particles improved the tensile strength but moderately weakened the flexural strength and Charpy impact strength of the composites. Dynamic mechanical analysis and microscopy suggested an improved interfacial compatibility between wood particles and matrix due to GA and DMDHEU treatments. Chemical treatment resulted in smaller particle sizes and altered microscopic fracture appearance after composite production as compared to untreated particles. Morphological changes were attributed to embrittlement of wood particles, which may negatively influence the mechanical properties of the resulting composites.