THERMAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF WOODFLOUR/TANNIN ADHESIVE COMPOSITES

M. MOSIEWICKI; M. I. ARANGUREN; J. BORRAJO

JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE

Wiley

Lugar: New York; Año: 2004 vol. 91 p. 3074 - 3082

0021-8995

Composite materials formulated with a natural polyphenolic matrix (commercial tannin adhesive made from quebracho tannin extract), pine woodflour as reinforcing material and hexamethylenetetramine (HEXA) as hardener have been prepared and tested. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of fractured samples was utilized to analyze the efficiency of the wetting and adhesion of the filler to the surrounding matrix.  Thermogravimetric analysis was used in the thermal characterization of the woodflour and the tannin extract. Flexural, compression and dynamic-mechanical tests were performed on composites to study the relationship of the filler content and particle size with the composite final properties. Moreover, the influence of the moisture content on the physical and mechanical properties of the different composites was analyzed. Results indicated that the mechanical properties were severely affected by the absorbed moisture.