Physical and mechanical properties of wood plastic composites produced from thermally treated corn stalks

Agricultural wastes are becoming increasingly important in the manufacture of bio-composites in Turkey and in the world. Turkey is among the world's leading country in terms of agricultural waste potential. The aim of this study is to improve the dimensional stabitiy and increase usage posssibility of the bio-composites produced from corn stalks. The thermal treatment at different temperatures and times were applied to corn stalk flour and bio-composites were produced from %50 polypropilen and %50 corn stalks. MAPP (Maleic anhydride polypropylene) for polypropylene mixtures will be used at a rate of 3% in order to provide the bonding effect on the interface of polymer/corn stalks flour mixtures. The untreated and thermally treated corn stalks were dried in an oven and pellets were produced in a twin-screw extruder. Composite panels were pressed using a hot press.from these pellets. 10 test specimens for each groups were cut and 2-h, 24-h, 48-h, 72-h, and 1 week thickness swelling and water absorption values were determined. The thickness swelling values of control group (non-treated) were 0.50%, 2.12%, 3.3%, 4.05%, and 6.90% for 2-h, 24-h, 48-h, 72-h, 96-h and 1 week immersion times, respectively. The thermal treatment at 180 °C for 20 and 40 min were improved the thickness swelling values of the bio-composites. Keywords: Thermal treatment, Dimensional stability, Bio-composites, Corn stalks.