Effect of urea on the mechanical strength of wood-plastic composites

Abstract

The effect of additives on the grafting of a monomer, butylmethacrylate (BA), into simul (a soft wood) has been studied using ⁶⁰Co source at 3 Mrad. The enhancement of polymer loading (grafting) by the addition of minute amounts (1%) of oligomers (EA, PEA and UA) and of polyfunctional monomers (TMPTA, TPGDA and NVP) into simul + BA system has been further increased in the presence of acid and urea. The synergistic PL yields by acid addition cause substantial decrease of TS values of WPC; but urea increases both PL and TS values synergistically in these systems.