Chemical modification of wood particles for high value wood plastic composites

Status

completed

Summary

Aim of the project is to proof the practicability of the production process of high value wood-polyolefin-composites by extrusion of modified (esp. acetylated) wood particles and polyolefins and to develop the modification process zu an entire strategy for producing high value wood-plastic-composites.

Based on preliminary work in the field of acetylating monomeric lignin-model-compounds, organosolv-lignin, avicell-cellulose, solid wood and wood flour with isopropenyl-acetate, the project shall point out the feasibility of different wood-modification-processes and the fabrication of concrete products (see projectproposal "FdZ-3. AS wood plastic moulding").

The project steps are desrcibed in the following:

• Status quo an drawing out the experimental design
• Acetylating of wood particles with isopropenyl-acetate (optimization)
• Acylation of wood particles with long-chain anhydrides
• Modification of wood particles by impregnation with hydrophobic compounds
• Production of wood plastic composite - test pieces
• Evaluation of the mechanical properties of the composites and based on this results property-profiles can be developed
• Chemical and physical tests of the fibre/matrix composite. Estimation of fibre decomposition by modification and processsing
• Scaling up, first implementation of modification processs in pilot stations for cost estimation and having enough material for subsequent pilot station scale production-processes
• Evaluation of modification processes, cost analysis and final results

Project results are on the one hand the evaluation of the different modification-processes, and on the other hand the effect of the processing on product properties, which where appropriate by networking with the project "FdZ-3. AS wood plastic moulding" will lead to marketable products.

Project management

Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Robert Putz
Tel.: +43 (0) 732/9015/5604
E-Mail: r.putz@kplus-wood.at

Project or cooperation partner

• Upper Austrian Research GmbH
  Dr. Wolfgang Stadlbauer
  Harald Ladner

Kompetenzzentrum Holz GmbH
Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Otmar Höglinger
St. Peter Strasse 25
4020 Linz
Tel.: +43 (0) 732/9015/5600
Fax: +43 (0) 732/9015/5618
E-Mail: hoeglinger@kplus-wood.at