Mechanical impact evaluation of natural fibres with LDPE plastic composites: Waste management in perspective

Abstract

There is increased enthusiasm towards the use of natural hair fibers for plastic reinforcement due to their toughness and light weight. In this research, low density polyethylene (LDPE) was reinforced using 0.25 ​M NaOH treated cow tail, human and sheep hair fibers at 2, 4, 6 and 8% concentration respectively prior to injection moulding. The average densities, diameters and lengths of hair fibres were assessed The results obtained from the analysis of reinforced LDPE composites indicated that cow tail hair gave the highest average density and diameter. Sheep hair had the highest length after grinding. The study also analyzed the ultimate tensile strength and modulus, flexural strength and modulus, elongation, impact and hardness test on the polymer and their composites as well as the morphology and statistical analysis of the composite. This study indicated that human hair LDPE composites achieved highest flexural strength, flexural modulus, ultimate tensile strength and tensile modulus at 8% fibre loading whereas elongation at break and hardness were at 4% fibre loading while impact strength was at 2%. The cow tail hair LDPE composite gave the best impact strength at 8% fibre loading and sheep hair at 6%. The SEM results showed no serious manufacturing defects on the composites. The analysis of variance indicated that only the means of the composites’ flexural properties were statistically significant. This study shows that short animal hair fibres could be effectively used to reinforced LDPE, and therefore suggest an alternative waste management strategy of these natural fibres that are currently viewed as environmental nuisance in the study area.