Mechanical Properties of Pineapple Leaf Powder Filled High Density Polyethylene

Abstract

The effects of pineapple leaf powder (PALP) on the mechanical properties of high density polyethylene (HDPE) composites were studied. HDPE and PALP composites were prepared by injection moulding technique. The filler (PALP) contents investigated were 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 wt% for each formulation. Results of the mechanical tests carried out on the HDPE/PALP composites showed that the tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural strength, abrasion resistance, and hardness of the composites increased with increases in filler content for all the filler contents investigated while the elongation at break (EB) for PALP/HDPE composites was found to decrease with increases in filler content for all the filler contents investigated. The tensile strength of PALP/HDPE composites was increased by 6.49% at 2 wt% filler content, and 30.39% at 10 wt% filler content. It was also observed, from the results, that the elongation at break of PALP/HDPE composites was decreased by 2.40% at 2 wt% filler content, and 10.24% at 10 wt% filler content. The present study has highlighted the utility of pineapple leaf powder (PALP) as reinforcing filler in HDPE compounding. Pineapple leave which is an agricultural waste has been shown to have potential as a cheap, more readily available and more environmentally friendly filler.