87 Polymers from Renewable Resources, Vol. 2, No. 3, 2011 Effect of Different Compatibilisers and Nanoclays on the Physical Properties of Wood (Phragmites karka)–Polymer Composites © Smithers Rapra Technology, 2011 Effect of Different Compatibilisers and Nanoclays on the Physical Properties of Wood (Phragmites karka)–Polymer Composites Biplab K. Deka, Nipu Dutta, and Tarun K. Maji* Department of Chemical Sciences, Tezpur University, Assam 784028, India Received: 25 May 2011, Accepted: 12 August 2011 SUMMARY Wood–polymer composites (WPCs) were prepared by solution blending of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) (1:1:0.5), wood flour, nanoclay, and compatibiliser. Compatibility among different polymers as well as with wood flour was evaluated by using different kinds of compatibiliser, namely glycidyl methacrylate (GMA), polyethylene-grafted maleic anhydride (PE-g-MA) and polyethylene-co-glycidyl methacrylate (PE-co-GMA). The formation of a nanocomposite was confirmed by XRD and TEM studies. SEM study showed that maximum improvement in compatibility of nanoclay-reinforced WPCs was achieved by using a mixture of compatibilisers (GMA + PE-co-GMA + PE-g-MA). FTIR study indicated an interaction between the polymer blend, wood flour, nanoclay, and the compatibiliser. WPCs prepared by using blended compatibiliser, nanoclay, and 40 phr wood flour exhibited maximum hardness, thermal stability, mechanical and flame-retardant properties. The water uptake capacity of blended-compatibiliser-based wood–polymer nanocomposites was lower than that of individual-compatibiliser-based nanocomposites. Keywords: wood; polymer; compatibiliser; composite; characterisation INTRODUCTION During the last decade, wood–plastic composites (WPCs) have emerged as an important family of green composites [1]. They are used in different outdoor and indoor applications such as decking, railing, fencing, docks, * Corresponding author. E-mail address: tkm@tezu.ernet.in