An experimental method for measurement of strain distribution between wood the flour particles and polymer matrix on micro-mechanical level

• Published in: Materials science & engineering. A, Structural materials : properties, microstructure and processing Structural materials : properties, microstructure and processing, 2011-07, Vol.528 (18), p.6072-6078
• Main Authors: Hussain, Farzana, Nairn, John, Muszyński, Lech
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Composites; Deformation; Digital Image Correlation (DIC); Exact sciences and technology; Flour; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Materials science; Micro-mechanics; Particle-reinforcement; Particulate composites; Polyethylenes; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Strain distribution; Technology of polymers; Wood; Wood Particle
• ISSN: 0921-5093; 1873-4936
• DOI: 10.1016/j.msea.2011.04.056

Strain map of the wood particle embedded particulate composite. [Display omitted] ► This manuscript describes an experimental method for measurement of strain distribution between wood flour particles and polymer matrix on micro-mechanical level. ► The rationale of this work is to use Digital Image Correlation technique (DIC) to conduct micro-mechanical research in wood plastic composites. Wood plastic composites (WPCs) are comprised of wood flour and thermoplastic polymer. The matrix is typically high-density polyethylene, poly (vinyl chloride), or polypropylene. The effect of morphology and micromechanics of wood flour particles on the mechanical performance of the bulk composite is a relatively unexplored area. The knowledge about the in situ properties of wood particles and the interfacial properties between the wood particles and the polymer matrix in the bio-composites is very limited. The objective of this work is to characterize the full-field deformation and strain distribution in and around wood particles embedded in polymer matrix. The mechanical tests are performed in small-scale tensile loading stage on thin composite samples containing 1–3 wood particles orientated at various angles. The deformations and strains is measured using optical measurement system based on Digital Image Correlation (DIC) principle.