Effect of fillers on mechanical properties of recycled low density polyethylene composites under weathered condition

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 44-49
Author(s):  
Ibiyemi A. Idowu ◽  
Olutosin O. Ilori

The study examined the effect of fillers on the mechanical properties of the recycled low density polyethylene composites under weathered condition with a view of managing the generation and disposal of plastic wastes. Discarded pure water sachets and fillers (glass and talc) were sourced and recycled. Recycled low density polyethylene (RLDPE) and preparation of RLDPE/glass, RLDPE/talc and RLDPE/glass/talc composites were carried out using a furnace at compositions of 0 – 40% in steps of 10% by weight. The mixtures were poured into hand-laid mould. The samples produced were exposed to sunlight for eight (8) weeks and their mechanical properties were studied. The results of mechanical tests revealed that tensile strength decreased with increasing filler loading while impact strength and hardness property increased marginally and considerably with increasing filler loading for all the composites respectively. The study concluded that glass and talc were able to reinforce recycled low density polyethylene under weathered condition. Keywords: Recycled Low Density Polyethylene (RLDPE); Fillers; Glass, Talc; Weathering condition; Sunlight; and Mechanical properties; Tensile strength, Impact and hardness

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
pp. 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olutosin O. Ilori ◽  
Ibiyemi A. Idowu ◽  
Kehinde M. Adeleke

This work compared the effect of fillers on the mechanical properties of recycled low-density polyethylene composites under non-weathered and weathered conditions. Pure water sachet wastes, glass wastes were sourced from dump-site at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, while the talc was sourced from Lagere, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Recycling of plastic bags (low-density polyethylene) and the preparation of recycled low-density polyethylene (RLDPE)/glass, RLDPE/ talc and RLDPE/glass/talc composites were carried out using a furnace at compositions of 0 to 40% in steps of 10% by weight. The mixtures were then poured into hand-laid mould for tensile, impact and hardness tests. The samples were divided into two groups; one group was subjected to natural weathering conditions. The results of mechanical tests carried out were subjected to a paired t-test. The study concluded that there was no significant difference between the non-weathered and weathered samples. This implies that both talc and glass were able to reinforce recycled low density polyethylene (RLDPE) under both conditions and can help resist degradation.


Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 2436
Author(s):  
Abubakar Sadiq Mohammed ◽  
Martina Meincken

Low-cost wood–plastic composites (WPCs) were developed from invasive trees and recycled low-density polyethylene. The aim was to produce affordable building materials for low-cost social housing in South Africa. Both raw materials are regarded as waste materials, and the subsequent product development adds value to the resources, while simultaneously reducing the waste stream. The production costs were minimised by utilising the entire biomass of Acacia saligna salvaged from clearing operations without any prior processing, and low-grade recycled low-density polyethylene to make WPCs without any additives. Different biomass/plastic ratios, particle sizes, and press settings were evaluated to determine the optimum processing parameters to obtain WPCs with adequate properties. The water absorption, dimensional stability, modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity, tensile strength, and tensile moduli were improved at longer press times and higher temperatures for all blending ratios. This has been attributed to the crystallisation of the lignocellulose and thermally induced cross-linking in the polyethylene. An increased biomass ratio and particle size were positively correlated with water absorption and thickness swelling and inversely related with MOR, tensile strength, and density due to an incomplete encapsulation of the biomass by the plastic matrix. This study demonstrates the feasibility of utilising low-grade recycled polyethylene and the whole-tree biomass of A. saligna, without the need for pre-processing and the addition of expensive modifiers, to produce WPCs with properties that satisfy the minimum requirements for interior cladding or ceiling material.


2011 ◽  
Vol 43 (6) ◽  
pp. 543-558 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. Chen ◽  
S. Chen ◽  
J. Zhang

The surfactant, sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (NaDDBS) and coupling agents, γ-aminopropyltriethoxy sliane (KH550) and isopropyl dioleic(dioctylphosphate) titanate (NDZ101) were used to treat multiwalled carbon nanotubes in this work. The effects of surface modification of multiwalled carbon nanotubes on crystallization behavior, mechanical properties, and electrical properties of low density polyethylene/polyolefin elastomer/multiwalled carbon nanotubes composites were studied. The results showed that NaDDBS, KH550, and NDZ101 had a favorable effect of improving the dispersion of multiwalled carbon nanotubes, but it cannot improve the interfacial interactionbetween multiwalled carbon nanotubes and the matrix. The improvement in dispersion favored the crystallization behavior and mechanical properties. Modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes had a better acceleration nucleation effect than raw multiwalled carbon nanotubes on low density polyethylene/polyolefin elastomer blends at low content (≤1 wt%). The tensile strength of low density polyethylene/polyolefin elastomer/multiwalled carbon nanotubes composites with modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes increased with lower multiwalled carbon nanotubes content (≤1 wt%), and KH550 and NDZ101 led low density polyethylene/polyolefin elastomer/multiwalled carbon nanotubes composites to possess a higher tensile strength than that of NaDDBS with 1 wt% content. NaDDBS, KH550, and NDZ101 had a minor influence on the dielectric properties of the composites and even caused a decrease in the dielectric loss of composites with 10 wt% multiwalled carbon nanotubes content.


Author(s):  
Mohammad H.M. Hamdan ◽  
Januar P. Siregar ◽  
Dandi Bachtiar ◽  
Mohd R.M. Rejab ◽  
Tezara Cionita

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Jong Won Kim ◽  
Joon Seok Lee

Polyethylene is one of the most commonly used polymer materials. Even though linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) has better mechanical properties than other kinds of polyethylene, it is not used as a textile material because of its plastic behavior that is easy to break at the die during melt spinning. In this study, LLDPE fibers were successfully produced with a new approach using a dry-jet wet spinning and a heat drawing process. The fibers were filled with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to improve the strength and reduce plastic deformation. The crystallinity, degree of orientation, mechanical properties (strength to yield, strength to break, elongation at break, and initial modulus), electrical conductivity, and thermal properties of LLDPE fibers were studied. The results show that the addition of CNTs improved the tensile strength and the degree of crystallinity. The heat drawing process resulted in a significant increase in the tensile strength and the orientation of the CNTs and polymer chains. In addition, this study demonstrates that the heat drawing process effectively decreases the plastic deformation of LLDPE.


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