FABRICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF COMPOSITES FROM HIGH DENSITY POLYETHYLENE AND FLAMBOYANT SEEDS SOLID WASTES

Abstract

This research work studied the potentials of utilizing plant and plastic wastes in the production of high quality composites. Composites of different percent filler loading (0-60%) were fabricated from high density polyethylene and flamboyant seeds wastes using compounding and compressing moulding machine. The fabricated composites were characterized via mechanical and morphological properties using ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) standards. The results obtained from the various parameters ranges from the lowest to the highest
filler loading composite materials are: Tensile strength 32.6 - 18.9 MPa; tensile modulus 12.75 - 30.62MPa; elongation at break 68.9-61.84%, flexural strength 50.30 - 14.88 MPa; flexural modulus 12.75 - 30.62 MPa; and impact strength 0.55 - 0.07 J/m2. The SEM micrographs have shown better distribution of filler particles in the lowest filler loading composite.