| dc.description.abstract | The recycled high density polyethylene (rHDPE)/wood fiber (WF) composites had been
prepared using Brabender Plasticorder at temperature 160˚C with rotor speed of 50 rpm.
The effect of wood fiber loading and coupling agents on tensile properties, water
absorption, morphology, spectroscopy infrared (FTIR) analysis, thermogravimetric
analysis (TGA) and x-ray diffraction (XRD) of rHDPE/WF composites were
investigated. The results show that the addition of wood fiber reduced the tensile
strength, elongation at break and interparticle spacing (d), whereas the modulus of
elasticity, equilibrium water absorption percentage, thermal stability, and the crystal
orientation ratio of composites increased. The coupling agents such as salicylic acid,
maleic anhydride, and phthalic anhydride were used, which resulted in positive effect on
tensile properties, water absorption, thermal stability and percentages of crystallinity of
rHDPE/WF composites. Whereas the presence of coupling agents had increased the
tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, thermal stability and crystal orientation ratio but
decreased the elongation at break, water absorption and interparticle spacing (d). The
results of various coupling agents on properties of rHDPE/WF30 composites have been
examined. The study was showed that rHDPE/WFm/MAH composites showed higher
tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, thermal stability and crystal orientation ratio
followed by rHDPE/WFm/PAH composites > rHDPE/WFm (wood fiber treated salicylic
acid) composites > rHDPE/WF composites in orders. Furthermore, lower the
elongation at break, lower percentage equilibrium water absorption and lower
interparticle spacing (d). The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs of
tensile fracture surfaces for the composites with coupling agents of salicylic acid,
maleic anhydride, and phthalic anhydride indicated that the interfacial interaction and
adhesion between WF and rHDPE phases were better than rHDPE/WF composites. | en_US |
