ABSTRACT
The effect of the chemical modification of wood fibre (WF) using salicylic acid/ethanol on the tensile properties, water absorption, thermal degradation and morphology of recycled high density polyethylene/WF (rHDPE/WF) composites was studied. Both of the composites: rHDPE/WF and rHDPE/WFM (modified with salicylic acid and ethanol) were prepared using a Brabender Plasticorder at 160°C with a rotor speed of 50 rpm. The results indicate that the rHDPE/WFM composite has a greater tensile strength, a higher modulus of elasticity, greater thermal stability, greater resistance to water absorption and a lower elongation at break than the rHDPE/WF composite. SEM micrographs show that better interfacial adhesion occurs between the WF phase modified with salicylic acid and ethanol (WFM) and the rHDPE phase in the rHDPE/WFM composite.
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