Effects of acetylation and antioxidant on field weathering resistance of wood/HDPE composite

To investigate the effects of acetylation and antioxidant on discoloration and the contact angle of weathered composite, composite samples were manufactured using poplar wood flour and high density polyethylene. The samples were exposed to natural weathering for the duration of 6 months. The results showed that acetylation can relatively reduce the discoloration of weathered sample compared to the untreated control sample. Antioxidant did not impose any influence on color change but could partly prevent destruction of plastic. It should be mentioned that acetylating process increased surface contact angle before weathering, but it could not protect the sample surface against photo degradation. The contact angle of all samples was lowered to zero at the end of weathering period.