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.
Highlights
Nowadays, the growing environmental awareness throughout the world has triggered a paradigm shift towards the design and development of environmental-friendly materials
The aim of this study is to investigate the use of pineapple leaf powder (PALP) as filler in compounding high density polyethylene (HDPE)
The increase of tensile strength of HDPE composites with increase in filler content observed in this study was similar to the findings of other researchers
Summary
The growing environmental awareness throughout the world has triggered a paradigm shift towards the design and development of environmental-friendly materials. Natural fibres (as fillers) from renewable resources offers the potential to act as biodegradable reinforcing materials that are alternative to the use of glass or carbon fibre as fillers in the polymer industry. The use of natural fibres has the following advantages: low cost, lightweight, renewable in character, biodegradability, high specific strength and modulus, availability in a variety of forms, absence of associated health hazards, easy fibre surface modification, and relative non-abrasiveness [3]. Biocomposites that are derived from natural fibres/fillers and traditional thermoplastics or thermosets have the capacity to maintain a balance between economy and environment. This makes it possible for these materials to be considered for applications in the fields of automotives, aerospace, defence, marine, sporting goods, building, furniture and packaging industries
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