Utilization of chestnut cupula and Anatolian chestnut (cancerous) (Castanea sativa Mill.) wood attacked by the Cryphonectria parasitica in wood-plastic composite (WPC) manufacturing

In this study, the effects of the usage of non-wood forest product Chestnut Cupula and Anatolian Chestnut (Castanea Sativa Mill.) wood attacked by the Cryphonectria Parasitica (cancerous) as lignocellulosic filler in the production of wood-plastic composite (WPC) on some technological properties of the produced WPC were investigated. WPC productions were also carried out using unattacked Anatolian Chestnut wood for comparison. High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) was used as the polymer matrix. Moreover, the Cupulas, healthy and cancerous wood flours of Anatolian Chestnut tree grown around the Simav/Kütahya were used as lignocellulosic filler. Lignocellulosic materials were used in different combinations with each other, with a filler ratio of 40%. Maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene (MAPE) was used as a coupling agent in order to increase the interface interaction between the hydrophilic fillers and the hydrophobic polymer matrix and Paraffin-wax was used as a lubricant. Firstly, the materials were combined by melt-mixing method with the help of a laboratory-scale single screw extruder and then test samples were produced by injection moulding method. The mechanical and physical properties of the WPCs were determined according to the relevant standards. As a result of the study, the solo usage of the chestnut cupula increased the flexural strength, the MOE, hardness and density values compared to the control group. In addition, tensile strength, elongation at break and impact strength values were negatively affected and the utilization of the cupula decreased these properties. The usage of cancerous chestnut wood flours was shown similar results obtained with WPC produced with the cupula, but they were shown similar results with the control samples (pure-HDPE) in terms of tensile strength. In general, the best mechanical properties were obtained from WPC groups using solo healthy chestnut wood. All of the WPC groups showed results far above the minimum flexural strength and MOE values required in the relevant standard for polyolefin-based plastic timber floorboards. As a result, it is thought that the cupula, cancerous and healthy wood flours of chestnut have the potential to be evaluated in WPC production.