Dynamic mechanical properties of high density polyethylene and teak wood flour composites

Abstract

The dynamic mechanical properties of high density polyethylene (HDPE) and teak wood flour (TWF) composites at varying volume fraction (Φf) of TWF from 0.00 to 0.32 have been studied. In HDPE/TWF composites, storage modulus (E′) decreased at Φf = 0.05, then increases with Φf; however, values were lower than HDPE up to Φf = 0.16, due to a pseudolubricating effect of filler. Loss modulus (E″) values were higher than HDPE in β and α relaxation regions while in γ relaxation region values were marginally equal to HDPE. Tan δ value decreases with Φf which may be due to enhanced amorphization and decreased crystallinity of HDPE. In presence of maleic anhydride grafted HDPE (HDPE-g-MAH), E′ values were lower than HDPE/TWF composites. In HDPE/TWF/HDPE-g-MAH, E″ were slightly higher than HDPE/TWF due to slippage of HDPE chains facilitated by the extent of degradation of coupling agent. Tan δ were higher for both systems than the rule of mixture.