Effect of Teak Wood Flour on Melt Rheological Behaviour of High Density Polyethylene

The melt rheological studies on HDPE/TWF (teak wood flour) composites were studied at (volume fraction) Φf = 0.00−0.32 and at 180°C, 190°C and 200°C. Viscosity of HDPE/TWF composites increases with Φf while decreases with increase in temperature. Addition of coupling agent, maleic anhydride grafted HDPE (HDPE-g-MAH) enhances viscosity as compared to the corresponding HDPE/TWF. This was attributed to increase in interaction between TWF and HDPE by HDPE-g-MAH which in turn stiffens the system. The power law coefficient, n, decreases with increase in Φf and increase in temperature and lower for HDPE/TWF/HDPE-g-MAH composites as compared to HDPE/TWF composites. The consistency index increases with increase in Φf and were higher for HDPE/TWF/HDPE-g-MAH.