ROLE OF COUPLING AGENTS ON THE PERFORMANCE OF WOODFLOUR-FILLED POLYPROPYLENE COMPOSITES

Composite materials were prepared from waste woodflour and polypropyle ne (PP). In order to enhance the chemical affinity between hydrophilic woodflour and hydrophobic polymer, the surface of the filter was modi fied by coating with a mixture of PP and a polymeric isocyanate, while PP was mixed with two types of maleated PP, before being mixed the wo odflour with polymer. The effects of coupling agents (i.e., individual ly or their mixtures) on the mechanical properties and void content of the composites have been evaluated. In the presence of coupling agent s the composites showed superior mechanical properties compared to tho se of non-treated composites and to those of unmodified polymer. The e xtent of improvement in mechanical properties depends on the nature, a ddition levels, and compositions of coupling agents. As far as mechani cal properties of the composites were concerned, the mixtures of coupl ing agents showed better performance compared to those of coupling age nts used individually.