Modeling the mechanical properties of clay powder filled recycled low density polyethylene composites

Date

2020-07-31

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Scientific Research Publishing

Abstract

This study modeled some mechanical properties of clay powder filled recycled low-density polyethylene, rLDPE (rLDPE composite). The rLDPE is commonly referred to as used sachet water bags. The clay powder (filler) was obtained by sun-drying, grinding, and sieving. Two particle sizes of clay powder were used: −90 µm and −425 µm to represent the passing sizes at different clay powder contents of 5, 10, 15 and 20 wt% which were thoroughly mixed with the recycled low-density polyethylene in an injection molding machine at 173˚C. The results showed that the tensile strength, tensile modulus, hardness, flexural strength, fatigue strength and hardness increased with increase in clay powder contents. However, there were decreases in strain-at-breakage and shear strength as clay powder content increased. Model equations showed that smaller particle size enhanced the mechanical properties and equations generated can be used to predict the properties of composites at predetermined clay contents. Standard deviations obtained for the various mechanical properties show that the model, in most cases had the lowest degree of scatter (dispersion) than those of −90 µm and −425 µm. Hence, these models are suitable to predict outcomes of the properties of the clay filled recycled low-density polyethylene composites

Description

This article contain tables and figures

Keywords

Clay, composite, modeling, particle size, properties, rLDPE, Department of Chemistry

Citation

Onyedika, G. O., Onuegbu, G. C. & Onuoha, C. (2020). Modeling the mechanical properties of clay powder filled recycled low density polyethylene composites. Journal of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, 8, 36 - 47