Abstract
A viable solution for replacing petroleum-based materials is to combine petroleum and bioresources materials to produce biocomposites having the requisite properties for packaging applications. Although biocomposites have many applications in different purposes such as building construction and aircraft industries, their applications in the packaging engineering are still novel. Therefore, in this study, a biocomposite consisting of low-density polyethylene (LDPE), wheat straw (WS) and the compatibilizers Maleic Anhydride Polyethylene (MAPE) and Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) with molecular weights of 400 and 600, was produced based on the requirements of the packaging industry. By performing different mechanical tests such as tensile, flexure and impact, the effects of the compatibilizing agents was determined. The ratios of the matrix to the filling phase applied to the compound were 70/30, 60/40, 50/50, and 40/60, and the compatibilizers were used at the levels of 0, 7, and 10% respectively. The MAPE compatibilizer improved the tensile properties. The compatibilizer type had no effect on the impact strength properties of the biocomposites. The flexural strength of all compounds was higher than that of the control.