Performance enhancement of poly(butylene succinate)/chemithermomechanical pulp fiber composites by debonder treatment

Debonder, a kind of weak combination reagent usually used in the production process of fluff pulp, was used as interfacial modifier in poly(butylene succinate)/chemithermomechanical pulp fiber composites. Physical properties of handsheets prepared by treated fibers indicated that the bonding strength between fibers was sharply decreased by the debonder treatment. The mechanical performance of composites prepared from treated fiber showed significant enhancement. In comparison with untreated one, the tensile strength, impact strength, and bending strength of composite containing 40 wt% of chemithermomechanical pulp fiber treated with 0.5 wt% debonder increased by 21.9, 22.3, and 35.4%, respectively. Furthermore, the data of rheological behavior measurement exhibited that the incorporation of debonder lowered the shear viscosity of composite and favored the processing process of composite. Besides, debonder played a role of hydrophobic agent in composites. A significant increase in storage modulus (E’) was observed upon the incorporation of treated chemithermomechanical pulp fiber. Scanning electron microcopy images showed that the interfacial bonding between treated fibers and poly(butylene succinate) matrix was improved.