Effect of Surface Modification on the Properties of Buckwheat Husk—High-Density Polyethylene Biocomposites

Abstract

This study focuses on the production and characterization of biocomposites based on a thermoplastic polymer (high-density polyethylene, HDPE) and a biosourced filler (buckwheat husk, BHS) to develop more sustainable composites. Compounding was performed via twin-screw extrusion with three different types of BHS. In the first series, untreated BHS was directly mixed with the polymer matrix, while the second series used mercerized BHS and the third series used pretreated BHS with a coupling agent (polyethylene grafted with maleic anhydride, MAPE) in solution. The samples were prepared at different concentrations (10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 wt.% of BHS) to compare with the neat matrix (0%). All the samples were finally produced by compression molding and then cut to get the specimens for characterization. The latter included morphological (scanning electron microscopy), physical (density and hardness) and mechanical (tension, flexural and impact strength) properties. Based on the results obtained, it was observed that most of the mechanical and physical properties were improved, especially when the BHS was pretreated in solution before its introduction into the polymer matrix. The results showed that 30 wt.% of BHS in HDPE was the optimum for most of the properties investigated.