The Comparison of Water Absorption Analysis between Counterrotating and Corotating Twin-Screw Extruders with Different Antioxidants Content in Wood Plastic Composites

Abstract EN

Water absorption is a major concern for natural fibers as reinforcement in wood plastic composites (WPCs).

This paper presents a study on the comparison analysis of water absorption between two types of twin-screw extruders, namely, counterrotating and corotating with presence of variable antioxidants content.

Composites of mixed fibres between rice husk and saw dust with recycled high-density polyethylene (rHDPE) were prepared with two different extruder machines, namely, counterrotating and corotating twin screw, respectively.

The contents of matrix (30 wt%) and fibres (62 wt%) were mixed with additives (8 wt%) and compounded using compounder before extruded using both of the machines.

Samples were immersed in distilled water according to ASTM D 570-98.

From the study, results indicated a significant difference among samples extruded by counterrotating and corotating twin-screw extruders.

The counterrotating twin-screw extruder gives the smallest value of water absorption compared to corotating twin-screw extruder.

This indicates that the types of screw play an important role in water uptake by improving the adhesion between natural fillers and the polymer matrix.