The effect of nanoclay contents on the physical and mechanical properties of bagasse flour/ reprocessed high density polyethylene (rHDPE)/ nanoclay composites was investigated. The bagasse flour content was constant at 50%, the maleic anhydride content was constant at 3%, and the nanoclay (Cloisite 30B) content was set at three different levels: 0%, 2%, and 4%. The materials were mixed in a co-rotating twin-screw extruder; afterwards, the specimens were fabricated using an injection molding method. The water absorption and mechanical properties, such as flexural and tensile strength, flexural and tensile modulus, and notched impact strength, were measured. The nanoclay dispersion was examined by X-ray diffraction. The results indicated that tensile and flexural modulus increased with an increase in nanoclay content. Also By increasing the nanoclay content at 2 wt.%, the tensile and flexural strengths of the composite were increased. However, the addition of 4 wt.% nanoclay resulted in reductions of these properties. Water absorption decreased with increasing nanoclay content. The structural examination of the bagasse polymer composite with X-ray diffraction showed that the nanoclay was distributed as an intercalated structure in the polymer matrix, and the d-spacing of layers decreased with increasing nanoclay content. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that 2% nanoclay samples with lower and more uniform pores compared at 4% nanoclay samples, respectively.

Polypropylene/wood flour composites with different nanoclay and maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (PP-g-MA) contents were fabricated by melt compounding and then by injection molding. The mechanical properties, such as flexural modulus, tensile modulus, elongation at break, and impact strength, were evaluated. Results indicated that the flexural modulus, tensile modulus, and elongation at break increases with increase of nanoclay up to 3 phc at the same concentration of PP-g-MA, and then decreases. However, the impact strength of the composites decreases with increased nanoclay loading. Also, the effect of compatibilzer was positive in terms of enhancing the mechanical properties of the composites. The morphology of the nanocomposites has been examined by using X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Morphological findings revealed that intercalation form, the sample with 3 phc concentration of clay, which implies the formation of the intercalation morphology and better dispersion than 6 phc, and the d-spacing of clay layers in the composite were improved in the presence of compatibilizer.

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The effect of the size of bagasse and nanoclay on mechanical properties and morphology of bagasse flour/recycled polyethylene nanocomposite was studied. The content of bagasse flour was considered to be constant at 40%, with the size of the remaining flour on sieves of mesh 40, 70, and 100, and the accompanying nanoclay content being 0, 2, and 4 wt%, respectively. It was found that tensile strength, flexural strength, and tensile and flexural modulus were increased by decreasing the size of the particles to mesh 70. Notched impact strength was also increased by reduction of the flour dimensions. Increasing the nanoclay content up to 2 wt% led to enhanced tensile and flexural strengths as well as tensile and flexural moduli of the composite material. These properties were hurt by the addition of 4 wt% nanoclay. On the other hand, increasing the nanoclay content up to 4 wt% is expected to decrease notched impact strength of the composites. X-ray diffraction (XRD) data indicated that the order of intercalation was higher at 2 wt% nanoclay in comparison with the samples containing 4 wt% nanoclay, and the d-spacing of layers decreased with increasing of nanoclay particles content.

The effects of the amount of nanographene on physical, mechanical, and thermal properties and morphology of the wood-plastic composites were investigated. This wood-plastic was made using recycled high density polyethylene (HDPE), nanographene, and wood flour. Four weight levels, 0, 0.5, 1.5, or 2.5 wt.% of nanographene, were combined with 70% polymeric matrix and 30% lignocellulosic material with an internal mixer. The results showed that by increasing the amount of nanographene up to 0.5% by weight, the flexural strength, flexural modulus, and notched impact strength of the composite increased. After adding 2.5 wt.% nanographene, these properties were reduced. By increasing the amount of nanographene, both the amount of residual ash and the thermal stability increased. Study of the images from scanning electron microscope (SEM) showed that the samples containing 0.5% of nanographene had less pores and were smoother than other samples.