Abstract
The analytical potential of attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy has been tested on the following wood-plastic composites (WPCs): high and low density polyethylene (HDPE and LDPE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and a recycled plastic (rHDPE). The data set of ATR-FTIR spectra has been analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA) and the studied samples could be grouped according to their polymeric matrixes. Additionally, ATR-FTIR spectroscopy proved to be a useful tool for determining the distribution profile of wood and plastic materials within different types of WPCs. Accordingly, the plastic content of the surface layers of HDPE, rHDPE, and PP composites was significantly higher than that of the core layer, whereas homogenous dispersion was observed in the LDPE composite. Among all WPCs, the PS composite displayed the worst dispersion.
©2010 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin New York
