Effect of gamma irradiation on the waste polyethylene/bagasse composites reinforced with flax and sisal fibers for use in wood applications

Due to their many benefits, including their environmentally benign nature, low cost, biodegradability, and generally good mechanical behavior, natural fibers represent one of the most attractive reinforcing materials. This paper describes the fabrication of green composites based on waste polyethylene (WPE)/bagasse reinforced with flax and sisal fibers. The composites were prepared using the hot‐mixing method in an internal mixer and molded in a hot press with a suitable thickness. This thickness is about 6 mm to ready for measurements belonging to the wood as impact strength, flexural strength, hardness, water absorption, density, and porosity measurements. The prepared specimens will be subjected to gamma irradiation to evaluate the effect of ionizing radiation on the fabricated samples. Furthermore, the thermal behaviors of the fabricated specimens were examined using TGA and DSC techniques. As a result of their superior mechanical performance, sisal, and flax fibers reinforced WPE/bagasse were able to create composites that were suitable for use in wood applications. The mechanical results revealed that composites with flax fiber are superior to composites with sisal fiber. With 30 phr fiber loading, WPE/bagasse thermal stability improved, with composites made of sisal being the best. With increasing fiber loading, the porosity of the composite rises due to the increase in density. Porosity decreases in composites with irradiation due to crosslinking and enhancement of the compatibility between fiber and matrix. Flax composites that have been irradiated exhibit significantly higher thermal stability than those that have not. Highlights Different advantages of natural fibers as their low cost, biodegradability, and generally good mechanical behavior are considered one of the most attractive reinforcing materials. Sisal and flax fibers reinforced WPE/bagasse were able to create composites that were suitable for use in wood applications. Green composites were prepared by the hot‐mixing method in an internal mixer and molded in a hot press with a suitable thickness of about 6 mm to ready for measurements belonging to the wood. Various studied properties were improved via ionizing irradiation due to crosslinking induced in the polymer matrix. Schematic diagram of wood‐composites fabricated by melt mixing processes.