Influence of thermoplastic elastomers on adhesion in polyethylene wood flour composites

摘要

The mechanical properties of recycled low-density polyethylene/wood flour (LDPE/WF) composites are improved when a maleated triblock copolymer styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS-MA) is added as a compatibilizer. The composites' tensile strength reached a maximum level with 4 wt % SEES-MA content. The compatibilizer had a positive effect on the impact strength and elongation at break but decreased the composites' stiffness. Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), a lap shear adhesion test, and a scanning electron microscope (SEM) were used to investigate the nature of the interfacial adhesion between the WF/SEBS and between the WF/SEBS-MA. Tan delta peak temperatures for the various combinations showed interaction between the ethylene/butylene (EB) part of the copolymer and the wood flour in the maleated system. The shear lap test showed that adhesion between the wood and SEES-MA is better than between the wood and SEES. The electron microscopy study of the fracture surfaces confirmed good adhesion between the wood particles and the LDPE/SEBS-MA matrix. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [References: 26]