High‐density green polyethylene biocomposite reinforced with cellulose fibers and using lignin as antioxidant

ABSTRACT Aiming to manufacture biomaterials using renewable resources, we prepared, using a corotating and intermeshing twin‐screw extruder, high‐density green polyethylene composites reinforced with 20, 30, and 40 wt % of bleached cellulose fibers. Injection molded test samples are characterized for mechanical and thermal properties using thermogravimetry (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). These composites present improved mechanical properties relative to the pure matrix; the elastic modulus increases by 240% for the composite with 30 wt % of fiber. We characterize this composite, additionally formulated with lignin and a secondary antioxidant, by tensile and flexural mechanical properties, DSC, TGA, and oxidation induction time (OIT). Lignin has no effect on the mechanical properties; however, for the composite, the OIT increases from 24 to 77 min, clearly evidencing its effect as a stabilizer. Aging the composites for 1000 h, in a QUV chamber, confirms the stabilizing effect of lignin. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 45219.