The Properties of The Wood-Polystyrene Interphase Determined by Inverse Gas Chromatography

The properties of the interphase in wood-polymer composites are important determinants of the properties of the final composite. This study used inverse gas chromatography (IGC) to measure interphasal properties of composites of polystyrene and two types of wood fiber fillers and an inorganic substrate (CW) with varying amounts of surface coverage of polystyrene. Glass transition temperatures, thermodynamic parameters, and the London component of the surface free energy (YsL) were deter mined. Values for YsL became constant at higher coverages, allowing the thickness of the interphase to be estimated