Optimization On Preparation Of Bamboo Flour/LDPE Composite And Its Properties

Bamboo-Plastic Composites (BPC) is a kind of modified thermoplastic materialsfilled or strengthened with bamboo flour or bamboo fiber, which can presentadvantages from both bamboo and plastic. Two phases are combined together throughchemical methods, such as grafting, coupling. More and more attention was paid tothe BPC because of its wide application value and potential market. However, theprocessing parameters are still far away from perfection at present especially in China.Therefore bamboo flour and thermoplastic low density polyethylene (LDPE) wereselected as raw materials in this paper. What's more, several beneficial trials about theprocessing optimization were done by response surface methodology.In this paper, bamboo flour/LDPE composites were prepared by injection.Design-Expert7.1.3software was used to design experiment and analyze the results.The optimal parameters of the molding process were obtained, viz., cooling time was8second, back pressure was60bar, the pace of holding pressure was30%, holdingpressure was50bar, shooting pressure1was40bar, shooting pressure2was60bar,shooting speed1was50%, shooting speed2was50%. The mechanical properties ofbamboo-plastic composite could reach the best in this condition.In addition, three coupling agents, e.g. MAPP, MAPE and YB-510, wereinspedted on the improving effect of the compability between bamboo flour andplastic by response surface methodology. Then the component (i.e. coupling agent,lubricant, antioxidant) of the bamboo-plastic composite were designed and optimized.Optimized results showed that, when MAPP was used, the most optimal parameterswere as follows. The content of MAPP was5.82%, the content of antioxidant was0.00%, the content of lubricant was0.50%; When MAPE was used, the most optimalparameters were as follows. The content of MAPE was6.34%, the content ofantioxidant was0.00%, the content of lubricant was0.04%; When YB-510was used,the most optimal parameters were as follows. The content of YB-510was2.82%, thecontent of antioxidant was0.18%, the content of lubricant was0.00%. At the same time, the dynamic rheological properties of the bamboo-plasticcomposite were studied through the rotate rheometer. Then the influences of variousadditives were analyzed on the processing property of the bamboo-plastic composite.Moreover, combined with the FTIR, SEM and TG analysis, we can explain themechanism of coupling agent on the properties of composite. The results showed thatall coupling agents could improve the interfacial compatibility between bamboo flourand LDPE in different degree. Especially, the modified effect of MAPE was bestamong these coupling agents.