2.4. Composites preparation
The incorporation of lignocellulosic fibers and maleated fibers
into the PE was carried out thorough mixing at high temperature, in
xylene, for sufficient time to achieve the maximum possible dispersion.
PE was first soluble in 10% (w/v) xylene at high temperature
then the fibers were mixed with the soluble polymer with stirring
until homogeneity.
After mixing, the samples were left to cool at
room temperature and left overnight to solidify then put into a steel
mould and left for 5 min in the hydraulic press, preheated at 130 ◦C
to form films of ∼0.6 mm thickness