Compatibilization between polyethylene (PE) and wood-flour was achieved by means of direct reactive extrusion of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA)

PE

wood-flour and other additives.Impact cracking surfaces of the PE/wood-flour composites (WPCs) were observed via scanning electron microscope (SEM).Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra of wood-flour extracted from the WPCs were measured.Heat distortion temperatures (HDTs) and mechanical properties of the WPCs were tested.The effect of comonomer styrene (St) and anti-crosslinking agent triphenyl phosphite (TPP) on the reactive compatibilization was also evaluated.Experimental results indicated that some of PE chains in the WPCs were bonded onto the surface of wood-flour after reactive extrusion resulting in the improvement of compatibility between PE and wood-flour.Both increased grafting ratio of GMA

and more bonded PE chains on the surface of wood-flour were evidenced due to the addition of St.However

the addition of TPP reduced the grafting ratio of GMA.Mechanical properties and HDTs of the WPCs were obviously improved after direct reactive extrusion.At 1.5 wt% of GMA and 0.3 wt% of DCP in the extrusion composition of WPC

the tensile strength

flexural strength

elongation at break

notched impact strength and HDT of WPC respectively increased by 67%

23%

32%

43% and 7.7 K comparing to those of the WPC without reactive extrusion.The addition of St was able to inhibit the cross linking reaction of PE

however

there was no significant changes observed for its mechanical properties and HDT.When both St and TPP were added in the WPC

the composites HDT decreased while elongation at break and notched impact strength were improved.