Effect of coupling agent on the mechanical properties of wood-thermoplastic composites

Wood powder as reinforcing fillers and polyethylene as a matrix have been used for wood plastic composites(WPC). In preparing WPC, the coupling agent, phthalic anhydride (PA) was used in order to increase the interfacial bonding force between matrix and fillers. In this study, the effect of wood powder, PA concentration on the mechanical properties and interfacial phenomena on the composites was evaluated. The tensile strength of 3 wt% PA-treated composites reached its maximum value of 25.91 MPa when the wood powder content was 30 wt%, and the maximum impact strength of PA-treated composites was 46.24 J/ m. SEM observation showed that wood powder was well dispersed and bonded well with PE matrix by increasing the coupling agent concentration.