The Lap Joint Shear Strength of Wood Materials Bonded by Cellulose Fiber-Reinforced Polyvinyl Acetate

Abstract

Polyvinyl acetate (PVA) is commonly used to bond wood materials, but it generally exhibits poor performance when used in composites that require resistance to water and creep. However, it can be reinforced with different particles to improve its performance, making it useful for various applications. In this study, PVA was reinforced with cellulose fibers (CFs) at different loadings (1%, 2%, and 4%). A mixer was used to blend the PVA and CFs. Thermal properties and morphological structure of CF-reinforced PVA adhesive were studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA/DTG) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The lap joint shear strength of woods bonded by CF reinforced PVA adhesive was tested on poplar and Scots pine woods that had 12% moisture content. The addition of CFs to PVA increased the thermal stability of PVA to different extents depending on the degree of loading on the CFs. The results of morphological studies indicated that some fluctuations on the SEM pictures were observed due to the dispersion of the CFs in the PVA matrix. The results showed that lap joint shear strength of the two different species of wood increased in all states after CFs were added to the PVA.