Radiation Physics and Chemistry 174 (2020) 108922

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Radiation Physics and Chemistry

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Effect of gamma irradiation on tensile and thermal properties of poplar T

wood flour-linear low density polyethylene composites
Vikram Kumara,b, Kapil Gulatia,c, Sohan Lala, Sanjiv Aroraa,∗
a
Department of Chemistry, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, India
b
Department of Chemistry, I.B. (P.G.) College, Panipat, India
c
Department of Chemistry, Dyal Singh College, Karnal, India

A R T I C LE I N FO A B S T R A C T

Keywords: Poplar wood flour and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) composites were prepared by varying percentage
Wood polymer composite of wood flour in LLDPE. The composites were synthesized via single screw extruder and then injection moulded
Extruder to tensile test specimens. Maleic anhydride grafted LLDPE was used as a compatibilizer. The tensile and thermal
Gamma radiation properties of wood polymer composites were investigated to optimize the wood flour content into the polymer
Tensile properties
matrix. . The composite having 30% of wood flour in LLDPE (LPW3) was found to have the maximum tensile
LLDPE
strength, almost double than for LLDPE. Its tensile modulus was also recorded as three times than that of LLDPE.
The optimized composite (LPW3) was then subjected to gamma radiation of variable dose, ranging from 25 to
150 kGy. The tensile strength was found to be the maximum at 100 kGy with comparatively better tensile
modulus. The onset degradation temperature of LLDPE is evaluated to be 442 °C and that of LPW3 before and
after irradiation ranges from 421 to 433 °C. The activation energies of degradation, calculated by multiple
heating rate kinetic methods of both non-radiated and radiated optimized composite were found to be relatively
higher than that of LLDPE. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy
(SEM) techniques were also used in the present study.

1. Introduction
The extensive use of synthetic reinforcements in polymers is a major
environmental and ecological concern. Natural cellulosic fibres (wood,
cotton stalk, rice husk, jute, hemp, kenaf etc.) as reinforcement/filler in
polymers have numerous advantages over the inorganic/synthetic fi-
bres. They are easily available, low cost, light weight and renewable.
These natural fibres are being utilized by polymer industries as re-
inforcement in polymer matrix (Di Bella et al., 2014; He et al., 2016;
Hou et al., 2014; Kojima et al., 2013; Mohammed et al., 2015;
Wimonsong et al., 2012), comprising effective products for various
applications, such as interior door panels, window moulding, interior
automobile parts, construction and building and packaging etc. (Bajpai
et al., 2013; Gupta et al., 2015; Sahu and Gupta, 2017; Xue et al., 2007).
Among natural fibres reinforced polymer composites, wood flour has
been extensively used to synthesize wood polymer composites (WPCs).
Linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) is one of the popular choices
to synthesize WPCs (Bas et al., 2015; Government et al., 2019; Shafiq
and Yasin, 2012), due to its magnificent flexibility. Moreover, its linear
backbone with short branches, are able to slide against each other
without entangling like LDPE, which gives LLDPE higher tensile
strength and better mechanical properties (Hashemi and Williams,
1986; Krupa and Luyt, 2001; Rozova et al., 2013). Polymers are com-
monly hydrophobic, resulting in poor interfacial bonding with hydro-
philic wood flour and limiting their mechanical performance (Duval
and Lawoko, 2014; Zhou et al., 2015). Interfacial adhesion between
wood flour and the polymer matrix can be enhanced either by chemical
treatment of fibres/matrix or using some cross linking agents/compa-
tibilizers (Arora et al., 2012a; Sailaja and Deepthi, 2011; Xiong et al.,
2009). Recently, radations are utilized to improve the adhesion be-
tween fibre and polymer matrix interfaces (Güven et al., 2016; Palm
et al., 2015; Parejo Calvo et al., 2012; Singh, 2001). Gamma radiation
can affect the polymer structure of wood fibre and polymer matrix,
producing active sites that may contribute to improve interaction be-
tween wood and polymer (Niang et al., 2017; Palm et al., 2016).
Gamma irradiation of polymer/composites became more popular
(Ahmadi et al., 2009; Al-Maadeed, 2006; Kismet, 2017; Noura et al.,
2018; Rimdusit et al., 2011; Vasco et al., 2017; Zhao et al., 2009) as no
heat formation takes place during the irradiation. This results into the
degradation/cross-linking of polymers with respect to the applied dose

∗
Corresponding author.
E-mail address: sarora@kuk.ac.in (S. Arora).

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radphyschem.2020.108922
Received 18 December 2019; Received in revised form 2 April 2020; Accepted 9 April 2020
Available online 11 April 2020
0969-806X/ © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
V. Kumar, et al.
(Ndiaye et al., 2014; Spiegelberg et al., 1995).
This work has been performed to study the effect of wood flour
content in LLDPE on tensile and thermal properties of composites. In
the present study, Poplar wood flour - LLDPE composites were syn-
thesized using maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene (MALLDPE) as
compatibilizer. The growing advantage of radiation technique, en-
couraged us to study the effect of gamma radiation on tensile and
thermal properties of wood polymer composites. The selected compo-
site was subjected to gamma radiation of variable dose, ranging from 25
to 150 kGy. The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of
gamma irradiation (coupled with compatibilizer) on tensile and
thermal properties of the wood polymer composties. Fourier transform
infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)
techniques were also used in the present work.
2. Experimental
2.1. Materials
LLDPE (M26500) having melt flow rate (190 °C/2.16 kg) of 50 g/
10 min was procured from Reliance Polymers, Delhi, India. Poplar
wood flour (PWF) was collected from local carpentry shop, washed with
deionized water and oven dried at 60 °C for 48 h. It was powdered by
using Ball Mill (Insmart Systems), sieved to 80 mesh size and placed in
desiccator to avoid absorbing moisture. Maleic anhydride grafted linear
low density polyethylene (MALLDPE) with brand name of Optim
E−119, used as compatibilizer was obtained from PLUSS Advanced
Technologies, Pvt. Ltd., Bawal, India.
2.2. Compounding and processing
The formulation of PWF/LLDPE composites is listed in Table 1.
Firstly, LLDPE, PWF and MALLDPE (3% extra of total formulation) were
mixed manually and then put into a single screw extruder with the
barrel temperatures, 130 °C–150 °C from feeding to the die zones. The
extrudates were passed through water tank and pelletized. The re-
sulting composite pellets were oven dried at 80 °C for 6 h and then
injection moulded to tensile test specimens as per ASTM D638.
2.3. Methods and analysis
2.3.1. Gamma irradiation
The test specimens were irradiated with 60Co gamma ray source in
Gamma chamber 1200 BNT at Inter University Acceleration Centre
(IUAC), New Delhi, India. The dose rate was 3.12 kGy h−1 at that time.
The optimized composite was subjected to gamma radiation of dose
ranging from 25 to 150 kGy and effect on its tensile and thermal
properties was studied.
2.3.2. Tensile properties
The tensile properties of wood polymer composites were tested on
Universal Testing Machine (Animatex Instruments and Services, Delhi,
India) with the load cell capacity of 5 kN. The dumbbell shaped test
samples were prepared as per ASTM D638. Tensile testing was per-
formed at a strain rate of 10 mm min−1. Five specimens were tested for
tensile properties of each formulation.
Table 1
Formulation of Poplar wood flour-LLDPE composites.
Sample Index LLDPE LPW1 LPW2 LPW3 LPW4 LPW5
LLDPE (%) 100 90 80 70 60 50
PWF (%) 0 10 20 30 40 50
LPW- Linear low density polyethylene wood composite.
2
Radiation Physics and Chemistry 174 (2020) 108922
2.3.3. Statistical analysis
The tensile data obtained before and after gamma irradiation was
subjected to one way ANOVA at a significance level of 0.05.
2.3.4. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)
The morphologies of tensile fractured surface of wood composites
were observed through SEM analyser JEOL JSM-6510LV (operating
voltage 15 kV). The specimens were coated with gold before scanning,
to make them conducting against electron beam.
2.3.5. FTIR spectroscopy
FTIR spectroscopy is used to study chemical change in the compo-
sites with respect to the varying amount of wood flour in the polymer
matrix and applied gamma dose. The infra-red spectra of the samples
were determined using MB-3000 ABB FTIR spectrophotometer in
transmission mode over the frequency range of 4000–600 cm−1.
2.3.6. Thermal analysis
TGA 4000, PerkinElmer was used to perform thermogravimetric
analysis (TGA). TGA of polymer (LLDPE) and its composites was carried
out at single heating rate of 10 °C min−1 under an inert environment
from ambient temperature to 600 °C. α-Alumina was used as reference
material and specimen holders of ceramics were used. Some selected/
optimized samples were also subjected to multiple heating rates TGA
and the various kinetic parameters were evaluated by using ‘model free’
methods Ozawa-Flynn-Wall (O–F–W) (Flynn and Wall, 1966; Ozawa,
1965) and Coats-Redfern (modified) (Burnham and Braun, 1999; Coats
and Redfern, 1964).
3. Results and discussion
3.1. Tensile properties
The tensile properties i.e. strength, modulus and strain of poplar
wood flour-LLDPE composites were determined. The ultimate tensile
strength (UTS) and tensile modulus (TM) of LLDPE and its composites
were plotted against variable content of poplar wood flour as shown in
Fig. 1. Tensile strength of all the LLDPE-composites were found to be
higher than its value for LLDPE. MALLDPE has also played an important
role in increasing compatibility between the wood flour and polymer
matrix and the similar investigations were also reported in the litera-
ture (Kuan et al., 2004). The increase in tensile strength might be at-
tributed to the esterification reaction occurring between the hydroxyl
groups of wood flour with the anhydride group of polymer chain (Borah
and Kim, 2016; Haydaruzzaman et al., 2009; Li and He, 2004; Yang
et al., 2007). It improves the compatibility between the wood and
LLDPE, leading to an efficient stress transfer from the matrix to fibre.
Tensile modulus of composites has also been improved as compared to
that of LLDPE. It might be attributed to the better stress propagation
from polymer matrix (LLDPE) to wood flour (Yang et al., 2007). It can
be seen that the increase in UTS and TM is only up to the 30% of the
wood flour added to matrix and after that both the properties rendered
a decrease in their values. It might be due to the saturation of the wood
flour with the matrix and poor ability to bear the load transferred from
the LLDPE matrix. Moreover, with higher wood flour loadings, filler-
filler interaction is increased in the composites, which induces ag-
glomeration of wood particles, resulting in the decrease in tensile
strength at higher filler loadings. Therefore, LPW3 is the optimized
composite due to its highest tensile strength and tensile modulus.
Tensile strength of LPW3 was found to be the highest
(15.92 ± 0.53MPa), among all the composites and is almost double
than that of pure LLDPE. Its tensile modulus is also found to be the
highest (204.94 ± 5.22 MPa), which is three times than its value for
LLDPE. On the other side, tensile strain rendered a decrease of ap-
proximately 76% from LLDPE to LPW3 Fig. 1. It might be due the
hindrance in polymer chain elongation by the presence of wood flour in
V. Kumar, et al. Radiation Physics and Chemistry 174 (2020) 108922

Fig. 1. Tensile Properties of LLDPE and Poplar wood flour –LLDPE Composites.

Fig. 2. Tensile Properties of optimized composite (LPW3), at various doses of gamma radiation.

Table 2 in tensile strength is substantially high and it might be due to the

One way ANOVA on Tensile properties of PWF-LLDPE composites. competition between cross linking and chain scissionning
Tensile Strength (Haydaruzzaman et al., 2009). The decrease in the tensile strength
Source of variation DF Sum of Squares Mean Square F Value P value beyond 100 kGy and tensile modulus beyond 75 kGy might be due to
Composition 5 213.32271 42.67454 137.70909 0 the predominating chain scissioning effect of gamma radiation for
Error 24 7.43734 0.30989 LLDPE at higher dose. The decrease in tensile strength at higher gamma
Total 29 220.81005
dose might be due to the agglomeration of fibre in the matrix, as higher
Tensile Modulus
Composition 5 58158.25889 11631.65178 859.48166 0 gamma dose also lead to an increase in fibre-fibre interaction (Niang
Error 24 324.8 13.53333 et al., 2017). Similar results for tensile parameters of LLDPE have been
Total 29 58483.05889 reported in literature (Ferreto et al., 2012; Krupa and Luyt, 2001). An
Tensile Strain
irregular change has been found in the tensile strain of LPW3 (Fig. 2)
Composition 5 4924.35467 984.87093 310.50526 0
Error 24 76.124 3.17183 after gamma irradiation. Everything considered it might be due to the
Total 29 5000.47867 competition between crosslinking and scissioning effects of gamma ir-
radiation (Haydaruzzaman et al., 2009).

the composites.
The optimized composite, LPW3 was subjected to gamma radiation
of variable radiation dose, ranging from 25 to 125 kGy. Fig. 2 shows the
variation of tensile properties of LPW3 with respect to gamma dose.
The tensile strength of LPW3 is found to be maximum
(16.46 ± 0.27 MPa) at 100 kGy with comparatively enhanced tensile
modulus (239.13 ± 2.44 MPa). It might be due to the cross linking
effect of gamma radiation, as gamma radiation generates the polar
sites/free radicals in LLDPE chain in the form of carbonyl groups due to
its oxidation (Ferreto et al., 2012). Gamma irradiation also produces the
free radicals in wood flour. These free radicals may react to change the
chemical structure, might be attributed to the formation of crosslinking
between the wood and LLDPE (Shubhra and Alam, 2011) resulting in
the increase of tensile strength of the composite. However, the change
3.2. Statistical analysis of tensile data
The tensile data before and after gamma irradiation were subjected
to one way ANOVA at a significance level of 0.05 and the results are
reported in Tables 2 and 3. Five specimens were tested for tensile
properties of each formulation. Five levels of wood flour content and six
levels of gamma dose have been taken into study. The results of sta-
tistical analysis indicate the significant difference in the mean values of
tensile properties with variable wood flour content. A significant dif-
ference between the mean values of tensile strength and tensile mod-
ulus of LPW3 with respect to gamma dose has been recorded. Tensile
strain had no significant difference in the mean values, after gamma
irradiation. It can be concluded from the statistical analysis that the
tensile properties vary with the wood flour content into LLDPE matrix.

3
V. Kumar, et al. Radiation Physics and Chemistry 174 (2020) 108922

Table 3 sample (LPW3/100kGy) are shown in Fig. 3. Tensile fractured surface

One way ANOVA on Tensile properties of LPW3 (Optimized composite) at of LLDPE (a, b) have thread like extensions which are formed due to the
various gamma radiation dose. extension of polymer chains, attributed to the ductile nature of the
Tensile Strength LLDPE (Khanam P N et al., 2016). In the SEM images of unirradiated
Source of variation DF Sum of Squares Mean Square F Value P value LPW3 (c, d), hollow spaces can be seen. It might be due to the fibre pull
Gamma Dose 6 4.71529 0.78588 4.475 0 out. The fibre pull out occurs due to the interfacial failure before the
Error 28 4.91725 0.17562
actual fibre breakage (Dikobe and Luyt, 2010). It means the maximum
Total 34 9.63254
Tensile Modulus load retaining capacity of composite is lesser than the actual capacity of
Gamma Dose 6 13131.77741 2188.62957 206.47449 0 the fibre. After the gamma irradiation at 100 kGy, significant changes
Error 28 296.8 10.6 can be observed at the fractured surface (e, f). SEM micrographs be-
Total 34 13428.57741 come smoother after gamma irradiation (100 kGy). It might be due to
Tensile Strain
the better stress propagation from polymer matrix (LLDPE) to wood
Gamma Dose 6 50.36286 8.39381 2.16216 0.07731
Error 28 108.7 3.88214 flour. Gamma irradiation produces free radicals in wood flour and
Total 34 159.06286 LLDPE. These free radicals may react to change the chemical structure,
might be attributed to the formation of crosslinking between the wood
and LLDPE. It is responsible for the change in tensile behaviour and
The gamma radiation also has a significant effect on tensile properties. hence for the change in morphology of tensile fractured surface
(Shubhra and Alam, 2011). The absence of hollow spaces in the irra-
diated sample, demonstrates that there is no fibre pull out. On further
3.3. SEM analysis
magnification, fibre breakage can be seen easily, which indicates the
enhanced adhesive forces between wood and matrix after irradiation.
SEM images (tensile fractured surface) of linear low density poly-
This resulted in the improved tensile strength (as discussed earlier) of
ethylene (LLDPE), optimized composite (LPW3) and gamma irradiated

Fig. 3. SEM images (tensile fractured surface) of (a, b) LLDPE (c, d) LPW3 and (e, f) LPW3 irradiated at 100 kGy.

4
V. Kumar, et al. Radiation Physics and Chemistry 174 (2020) 108922

The intensity of C–H bonds depends on the weak intermolecular in-

teractions primarily C–H—O type present in case of WPCs. An increase
in intensity in this region might be attributed to the cleavage of weak
hydrogen bonds present in the WPCs upon exposure to gamma irra-
diation. Moreover, breaking of bonds and emission of molecular gases
and radicals due to irradiation also affect the C–H stretching intensity to
a great extent (Raghu et al., 2016). The peaks at 1466 and 717 cm−1
are due to CH2 bending and CH2 vibrations in LLDPE.
The absorption peaks in the region of 3600–3300 cm−1 are the
characteristics of O–H stretch of hydroxyl groups present in wood flour.
However, the O–H characteristics bands in the spectrum of LLDPE in
the region 3600-3300 cm−1 attributed to the moisture present in the
sample of LLDPE (Ahmad et al., 2013). After gamma irradiation of
LPW3 at 100 kGy, the intensity of O–H absorption bands is found to be
lower. It might be due to the interaction of hydroxyl groups of wood
flour with the anhydride groups of MALLDPE (Borah and Kim, 2016;
Haydaruzzaman et al., 2009; Li and He, 2004; Yang et al., 2007).

3.5. Thermal analysis

Fig. 4. FTIR spectra of (a) LLDPE, (b) LPW3 and (c) irradiated LPW3.
Fig. 5. TG curves of LLDPE, LPW3 (optimized composite) and gamma irra-
diated LPW3, at a heating rate of 10 °C min−1.
irradiated composite as compared to non irradiated one.
3.4. FTIR analysis
The FTIR spectra of LLDPE, optimized composite (LPW3) and
gamma irradiated optimized composite (LPW3/100kGy) are shown in
Fig. 4. The peak around 2800-3000 cm−1 is assigned to C–H stretching.
The LPW3 that is 30% poplar wood flour in LLDPE matrix is the
optimized composite on account of its more desirable tensile properties.
An attempt has been made to study the thermal behaviour of LPW3
with respect to LLDPE and gamma radiation dose. TGA is performed for
LLDPE, LPW3 and LPW3/100 kGy in an inert environment, at multiple
heating rates. LPW3/100 kGy is selected from a set of irradiated sam-
ples because of its highest tensile strength. TG curves of LLDPE, LPW3
and gamma irradiated LPW3 (100 kGy) at a heating rate of 10 °C min−1
are shown in Fig. 5.
Two degradation stages can be observed in poplar wood flour-
LLDPE composite (LPW3), before and after gamma irradiation, while
LLDPE has single stage degradation. The first degradation stage in the
composites corresponds to the degradation of lignocellulosic wood flour
added into the polymer matrix, while second degradation stage corre-
sponds to the degradation of LLDPE present in the composite (Shafiq
and Yasin, 2012; Shebani et al., 2009). So, comparison of the thermal
stability of composites and LLDPE is made with respect to second de-
gradation stage.
The TG and DTG parameters of LLDPE and its wood flour compo-
sites at a heating rate of 10 °C min−1 are tabulated in Table 4. The onset
degradation temperature of LLDPE is found to be 442 °C and that of the
LPW3 (second stage) is 426.3 °C. The onset degradation temperatures of
LPW3 range from 421 to 433 °C, before and after irradiation. It can be
seen that, thermal stability slightly decreased with the incorporation of
wood flour into LLDPE but it is almost unaffected with respect to
gamma radiation dose. Krupa and Luyt (2001) reported the similar
results of gamma irradiation on LLDPE. On exposure of gamma radia-
tion, the onset degradation temperature (first degradation stage) of
LPW3, rendered an increase in its value up to 75 kGy. Thermal stability
for 75 kGy and 100 kGy gamma dose is almost similar, thereafter it

Table 4
TG and DTG data of LLDPE and LLDPE Wood flour Composite in an inert environment, at heating rate of 10 °C min−1.
Sample Index 1st Degradation Stage (°C) 2nd Degradation Stage (°C) MMLR (% min−1)

To Te Tm To Te Tm

LLDPE – – – 442.0 503.8 482.7 32.5

LPW3 227.8 365.8 334.4 426.3 504.6 478.7 22.2
LPW3/25 kGy 240.4 369.9 336.6 430.6 505.8 480.8 21.6
LPW3/50 kGy 234.2 367.7 334.4 433.7 505.8 478.7 22.3
LPW3/75 kGy 248.7 376.1 344.9 432.5 505.8 478.7 20.5
LPW3/100 kGy 244.4 384.6 334.4 422.2 501.5 480.6 22.8
LPW3/125 kGy 234.2 376.1 338.5 421.1 501.5 478.7 21.8
LPW3/150 kGy 228.9 376.1 334.4 426.3 501.5 478.7 22.8

LLDPE-Linear low density polyethylene, To-Onset temperature, Te-Endset temperature.

Tm –DTG Peak temperature, MMLR-Maximum mass loss rate.

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V. Kumar, et al. Radiation Physics and Chemistry 174 (2020) 108922

Fig. 6. DTG curves of (a) LLDPE (b) LPW3 (optimized composite) (c) LPW3/100 kGy at different heating rates.

Table 5 decreases on further increase in gamma dose. The difference in the

TG and DTG data of LLDPE, LPW3 and LPW3/100 kGy. onset degradation temperatures (second stage) of LPW3 at various ra-
Sample Index 2nd Degradation Stage (°C) MMLR (% min−1)
diation doses is not much significant. This indicates that weaker bonds
were not introduced during cross linking. It can be said that there is
Toβ→0 Teβ→0 Tmβ→0 little distinction between the thermal stabilities of the LLDPE and
LPW3. Further, thermal stability of the composites persists after the
LLDPE 414.4 472.5 454.8 2.5
LPW3 411.5 476.7 454.3 0.2
gamma irradiation.
LPW3/100 kGy 414.6 475.1 455.0 0.9 LLDPE, LPW3 and LPW3/100 kGy were subjected to thermogravi-
metric analysis (TGA) at multiple heating rates of 2.5, 5.0, 10 and 20 °C
min−1. DTG curves obtained at different heating rates for the samples
are shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 7. Variation of activation energy calculated by (a) Coats-Redfern and (b) O–F–W method with degree of conversion.

6
V. Kumar, et al.
Fig. 8. Iso-conversional plots of Coats-Redfern (modified) and O–F–W method of (a, b) LLDPE, (c, d) LPW3 and (e, f) LPW3/100 kGy respectively.
It is a known fact that characteristic temperature will be shifted
towards higher value with increasing heating rates (Arora et al.,
2012b). The various thermal parameters calculated are listed in
Table 5. To avoid the influence of linear heating rates in determining
parameters To, Te, Tm, and MMLR the values from different heating
rates of individual samples were extrapolated to a value, where heating
rate (β) = 0 (Arora et al., 2012b). As can be seen from Table 5 that
there is no significant difference between the thermal parameters (ex-
cept MMLR) of LLDPE, non-radiated and radiated (100 kGy) optimized
composite (LPW3). It can be said that thermal stability of wood polymer
composites is almost unaffected upon gamma irradiation; this discarded
7
Radiation Physics and Chemistry 174 (2020) 108922
the introduction of any weaker bond during irradiation. Further, MMLR
of both radiated and non-radiated and radiated composite sample are
lower than that of LLDPE.
3.5.1. Kinetic studies of degradation by multiple heating rate methods
The plots of activation energy calculated by above methods with
degree of conversion are shown in Fig. 7. The iso-conversional plots of
Coats-Redfern (modified) and O–F–W for.
LLDPE, LPW3 (optimized composite) and LPW3/100 kGy are shown
in Fig. 8. The iso-conversional plots rendered a general course of acti-
vation energy of degradation. In the lower conversion region (0.01–0.3)
V. Kumar, et al.
the regressions for LLDPE were fairly good while the regressions for
LPW3 and LPW3/100kGy were poor. This indicates multiple degrada-
tion processes occurred in the lower conversion region, which may be
the degradation of lignocellulosic materials of wood flour (Niang et al.,
2017; Shebani et al., 2009).
In the higher conversion regions (0.3–0.9), the value of activation
energies for LPW3 and LPW3/100kGy are similar and both are higher
than that of activation energies for LLDPE. This resulted in the lower
mass loss rate of both non-radiated and radiated LPW3 (Table 5). It can
be inferred that the thermal stability of composite LPW3 and LPW3/
100kGy is slightly higher than that of the polymer at higher degree of
conversion.
4. Conclusions
Poplar wood flour-linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) com-
posites were prepared with varying amount of poplar wood flour.
Tensile strength and tensile modulus were found to be increased up to
30% of wood flour into the polymer matrix. Gamma irradiation im-
proved the tensile properties of wood polymer composites with no
significant effect on their thermal stabilities. Moreover, both non-ra-
diated and radiated optimized composite were found to be slightly
more thermally stable at higher degree of conversion. SEM micrographs
of the optimized composite became smoother after gamma irradiation
(100 kGy). It might be due to the better stress propagation from
polymer matrix (LLDPE) to wood flour. IR analysis showed the inter-
action of hydroxyl groups of wood flour with the anhydride groups of
MALLDPE upon irradiation. It can be concluded that gamma radiation
alongwith compatibilizer has played an important role in cross linking
between hydrophilic wood flour and hydrophobic polymer matrix re-
sulting in better tensile properties.
CRediT authorship contribution statement
Vikram Kumar: Conceptualization, Investigation, Methodology,
Formal analysis, Writing - original draft, Writing - review & editing.
Kapil Gulati: Investigation, Visualization, Software, Formal analysis.
Sohan Lal: Resources. Sanjiv Arora: Supervision, Conceptualization,
Data curation, Resources, Writing - original draft, Writing - review &
editing.
Declaration of competing interest
On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there
is no conflict of interest.
Acknowledgements
Gratefully acknowledge the University Grants Commission, Delhi,
India for the award of Teacher Fellowship, vide its Award no. 27-3
(TF)/2016 (NRCB) dated 05.05.16. Grateful to I.B.(P.G.) College,
Panipat and Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra for building a path to
get engaged in research. Sincere thanks to Ms. Shivangi, Assistant
Professor in English, KVA DAV College for Women, Karnal for careful
reading of the manuscript.
Appendix A. Supplementary data
Supplementary data to this article can be found online at https://
doi.org/10.1016/j.radphyschem.2020.108922.
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