Properties Evaluation of High Density Polyethylene Composite Filled with Bagasse after Accelerated Weathered

Wood plastic composites (WPCs) are produced from a mixture of wood (in different sizes) and resin (thermoset or thermoplastic). This product has many applications as structural and non-structural materials and since its emerge in market its use received an increasing trend. Adding wood flour to polymer not only improves its mechanical properties compared to net polymer, but also leads to products with moldability characteristics. With increasing demand of WPCs and reduction in forest harvest according to new protecting law of forestry, and lack of raw materials for producers, other lignocelluloses materials replace wood flour. Agricultural by-products such as hemp, coir, rice husk and bagasse (residual from sugar cane extraction) are the examples that can be used in WPCs. As the outdoor application of Wood Plastic Composites (WPCs) becomes more widespread, the resistance of its products against weathering, particularly ultraviolet (UV) light becomes more concerned. When WPCs are exposed to outdoor, ultraviolet (UV) light, rain, snow and atmospheric pollution, they will be degraded which is marked by color fade and loss in mechanical properties. Nowadays many manufactures of WPCs use bagasse as a raw material. Their production in different color and shapes are used as arbors and pergolas and also as decorative applications for outdoor uses. However, so far there has been no research done on the effects of weathering on composites made from bagasse. In present study, composites from bagasse and high density polyethylene, with and without pigments in master batch, have been made through extrusion. Then samples were exposed to accelerated weathering for 1440h. After this period of time samples were removed and their chemical, mechanical and surface qualities were studied. The results have shown that using bagasse as filler can relatively reduce the discoloration of weathered samples. Moreover, adding pigments to WPCs can increase colorstability, while it would cause higher loss in mechanical properties.