Patent ID: 8546470

Claim:
A cellulosic inclusion-thermoplastic composition comprising: a plurality of cellulosic inclusions comprising cellulosic fibers or flour; a thermoplastic polyolefin having a thermoplastic polyolefin melting temperature and forming a matrix in which said plurality of cellulosic inclusions are dispersed, the thermoplastic polyolefin being selected from the group consisting of: polypropylene, a copolymer of propylene and ethylene, a mixture of polypropylene and polyethylene; a maleated polymer present at a maleated polymer total weight percent; and a polar thermoplastic polymer resin of a polyamide or a polyester, said polar thermoplastic resin having a resin melting temperature and present at polar polymer total weight percent, said maleated polymer and said polar thermoplastic resin interacting synergistically between said plurality of cellulosic inclusions such that the composition has an increased break tensile strength as measured at 23° Celsius and at an cross-head speed of 50 millimeters per minute relative to a composition devoid of said resin, wherein the maleated polymer total weight percent is present between 1 to 5 total weight percent and the polar polymer total weight percent is present between 1 and 10 total weight percent, and said plurality of cellulosic inclusions has a moisture content of less than 10 weight percent of said plurality of cellulosic inclusions.