Effects of cross-linking on mechanical and physical properties of agricultural residues/recycled thermoplastics composites

Abstract Maleated graft polyolefins as cross-linking agents (CAs) are widely used to improve properties of wood thermoplastic composites made by melt extrusion process. In this study, novel CAs, free isocyanate group (NCO)-terminated urethane pre-polymers (UPs) were synthesized and used in manufacturing wheat straw (WS)/recycled polyethylene (PE) composites. The composites using polymeric diphenylmethane diisocyanate (pMDI) as a CA were also made in comparison. The relationship between composite properties and the level of CA and its content as well as the composite density and hot pressing time were investigated based on wood based board processes. The results show that the internal bonding (IB) strength, the IB after soaked in boiling water for 2 h (2hWIB), the modulus of rupture (MOR), the modulus of elasticity (MOE) and the 24 h thickness of swell after absorption of water (24hTS) of the composites are significantly improved with increased CA contents and composite densities. The optimal hot pressing time is 1.1 min/mm at 180°C. The cross-linking function is attributed to the reaction between free NCOs of CA molecules with hydroxyls of WS and the moisture in the raw materials, as well as the interaction between weak polar chain segments in the CA molecules to the non-polar PE. It is highly feasible to manufacture high quality composite using WS and recycled PE as raw materials when cross-linked with just 2.5% of UPs.