gamma-Fe-2-O-3-high-density polyethylene (HDPE) composite films are prepared by a gel-casting technique. To understand the effect of additives, rice husk ash and thiourea are made to disperse in the HDPE matrix to obtain the composite films with additives. The as-prepared gamma-Fe2O3-HDPE composite films with their additives are subjected to characterization and study through X-ray diffraction, thermal, scanning electron microscopy, and dielectric measurements. The results are qualitatively treated. (C) 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.