From Waste to Reuse: Manufacture of Ecological Composites Based on Biopolyethylene/wood Powder with PE-g-MA and Macaíba Oil

This work aimed to investigate the biopolyethylene (BioPE)/wood powder (WP) composites compatibilized with polyethylene-grafted maleic anhydride (PE-g-MA), using macaíba oil (OM) as a processing aid. The were prepared, fist, in an internal mixer and, later, crushed flakes molded by injection. Mechanical properties (impact, tensile, flexural and Shore D hardness), heat deflection temperature (HDT), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry (TG), water absorption, torque rheometry electron microscopy (SEM) evaluated. addition of 30% wood BioPE matrix increased elastic modulus (tensile flexural), hardness compared neat BioPE. These improved when 10% PE-g-MA compatibilizer was added, non-compatibilized composite. There significant reduction oil, indicating that it processability. In addition, incorporation into helped reduce well increase impact strength. SEM micrographs illustrated greater degree interfacial adhesion macaiba added.