Gold as an X-ray CT scanning contrast agent: Effect on the mechanical properties of wood plastic composites
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Yi Wang
Abstract
Wood plastic composites (WPCs) are typically composed of wood particles, thermoplastic polymers and small amounts of additives. Further improvement of WPC technology requires a better understanding of their mechanical performance and durability on the micro level. X-ray computed tomography (CT) and advanced imaging techniques can provide visualization and support characterization of the internal structure, deformation and damage accumulation in WPCs under loading and various environmental exposures. However, both wood and thermoplastics are weakly attenuating materials for X-ray and good contrast between these two components is difficult to obtain. In the present study, chemically inert gold nano-particles and micro-particles were investigated as contrast agents to improve X-ray CT scanning contrast between wood and thermoplastics. The effect of adding 1% (by wt.) gold nano- and micro-particles on the tensile properties of wood/high-density polyethylene composites was addressed. Samples with and without surfactant were tested in tension and scanned on a custom desktop X-ray CT system. It was found that the addition of gold particles did not impair the WPC tensile properties. However, some of the tensile properties were significantly affected if the surfactant was included. Gold micro-particles were shown to disperse well without surfactant and significantly improve the X-ray CT scanning contrast between wood and polymer, while gold nano-particles (without surfactant) did not disperse well and do not contribute to contrast improvement.
©2007 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin New York
Articles in the same Issue
- Acknowledgement
- Subject index
- Contents Volume 61 (2007)
- Author index
- Species index (scientific names)
- Meetings
- Improvement of Pinus pinaster Ait elite trees selection by combining near infrared spectroscopy and genetic tools
- Direct method for the determination of phenolic hydroxyl groups in pulp
- Comparative effect of ozone, chlorine dioxide, and hydrogen peroxide on lignin: Reactions affecting pulp colour in the final bleaching stage
- Structural modification of eucalypt pulp lignin in a totally chlorine-free bleaching sequence including a laccase-mediator stage
- Analysis of wood tissues by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry
- Isolation and identification of residual chromophores from aged bleached pulp samples
- Studies on oxidative modifications of cellulose in the periodate system: Molecular weight distribution and carbonyl group profiles
- Lignin-carbohydrate network in wood and pulps: A determinant for reactivity
- Cross polarisation/magic angle spinning 13C-NMR spectroscopic studies of cellulose structural changes in hardwood dissolving pulp process
- Fungal decay of spruce and beech wood assessed by near-infrared spectroscopy in combination with uni- and multivariate data analysis
- Paper mill sludge as a component of wood adhesive formulation
- Implementation of sorption hysteresis in multi-Fickian moisture transport
- Time/temperature equivalence in the dry wood creep response
- Neural network prediction of bending strength and stiffness in western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla Raf.)
- Bending properties of particleboard and MDF layers
- Gold as an X-ray CT scanning contrast agent: Effect on the mechanical properties of wood plastic composites
- Lignin modification in the initial phase of softwood kraft pulp delignification with polyoxometalates (POMs)
Articles in the same Issue
- Acknowledgement
- Subject index
- Contents Volume 61 (2007)
- Author index
- Species index (scientific names)
- Meetings
- Improvement of Pinus pinaster Ait elite trees selection by combining near infrared spectroscopy and genetic tools
- Direct method for the determination of phenolic hydroxyl groups in pulp
- Comparative effect of ozone, chlorine dioxide, and hydrogen peroxide on lignin: Reactions affecting pulp colour in the final bleaching stage
- Structural modification of eucalypt pulp lignin in a totally chlorine-free bleaching sequence including a laccase-mediator stage
- Analysis of wood tissues by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry
- Isolation and identification of residual chromophores from aged bleached pulp samples
- Studies on oxidative modifications of cellulose in the periodate system: Molecular weight distribution and carbonyl group profiles
- Lignin-carbohydrate network in wood and pulps: A determinant for reactivity
- Cross polarisation/magic angle spinning 13C-NMR spectroscopic studies of cellulose structural changes in hardwood dissolving pulp process
- Fungal decay of spruce and beech wood assessed by near-infrared spectroscopy in combination with uni- and multivariate data analysis
- Paper mill sludge as a component of wood adhesive formulation
- Implementation of sorption hysteresis in multi-Fickian moisture transport
- Time/temperature equivalence in the dry wood creep response
- Neural network prediction of bending strength and stiffness in western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla Raf.)
- Bending properties of particleboard and MDF layers
- Gold as an X-ray CT scanning contrast agent: Effect on the mechanical properties of wood plastic composites
- Lignin modification in the initial phase of softwood kraft pulp delignification with polyoxometalates (POMs)
