the effect of nano-clay particles and compatibilizer on the decay resistance of wood plastic composite

the purpose of this study was to evaluate effects of nano-clay particles and oxidized polypropylene as compatibilizer on the decay resistance of wood plastic composite against coriolus versicolor fungi. in order to provide oxidized polypropylene as compatibilizer, polypropylene was oxidized in the presence of air oxygen in 2 hours by internal mixer. afterwards, wood fibers, polypropylene, nano-clay particles and oxidized polypropylene as compatibilizer with certain ratio were mixed in an internal mixer and were pressed into plates of 150×150×2 mm3 nominal dimensions by using a laboratory hydraulic hot press., then, carry out the decay test by using a white rot fungus as coriolus versicolor . results showed that the weight loss of composite due to decay was proportional to the nano-clay particles percentage, so that the increasing the percentage of nano-clay particles from 0% to 4% were associated with less weight loss and decay. as well as, the samples without compatibilizer showed more weight loss and decay in comparison with those having compatibilizer. morphology of the composites containing nano-clay particles are evaluated by using x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy which results demonstrated that distribution of nano-clay particles in the field of the polymer was intercalation typeso this is an approval on better stability of this class of composites against coriolus versicolor fungi.