Thermal analysis of high density polethylene-maple woodflour composites

To recycle waste cellulosic materials and post-consumer disposal-synthetic polymers, various composites of the high density polyethylene (HDPE) with m aple woodflour have been prepared with maleic anhydride as compatibilizer a nd magnesium hydroxide as flame-retardant agent. The thermal behaviors of t hese composites in nitrogen and air have been investigated. The effects of the addition of maleic anhydride and magnesium hydroxide on the composite m atrices have also been studied by TG-DTA. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. Al l rights reserved.