Surface and interfacial characterization of wood-PVC composites: Thermal and dynamic mechanical properties

Maleation significantly influenced thermal and dynamic mechanical properties of resultant wood-PVC composites. Experimental results indicated that storage modulus (E') and complex modulus (E*) increased with increase of maleated polypropylene (MAPP) retention at low MAPP retention for both E-43 and G-3015, but leveled off or decreased at high MAPP retention. However, tandelta was independent of MAPP retention. Interfacial bonding strength was related to these moduli at low MAPP retention levels, but the correlation between interfacial bonding strength and moduli was not so significant at high MAPP retention. Compared with wood, PVC, and untreated composites, maleated wood-PVC composites had significant shifts in most DMA, TGA, and DSC spectra due to chemical coupling by MAPP at the interface.