PHYSICAL-MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF COMPOSITES BASEDON LOW DENSITY POLYETHYLENE AND THERMALASH OF HOUSEHOLD WASTE

Abstract

The article presents the results of a study of the influence of the concentration and disper-sion of household waste thermal ash on the physical-mechanical properties of composites based on low-density polyethylene. Thermal ash was obtained in a thermal furnace at the Balakhani enter-prise in Baku city at a temperature of 1200°C. We studied such properties of composites as tensile yield strength, ultimate tensile stress, elongation at break, and flexural strength. To study the effect of thermal ash dispersity on the properties, three grindings with a particle size were obtained: 80-110nm, 300-500nm and 1200-2000nm. It was found that low-density polyethylene nanocompo-sites with a particle size of 80–110 nm have relatively high strength properties (ultimate tensile stress, tensile yield strength, flexural modulus). It has been shown that, regardless of the dispersion of the particles, the maximum value of the tensile yield strength and ultimate tensile stress is achieved for samples containing 10 wt % of thermal ash. The maximum value of the flexural strength was established for samples with 20 wt % thermal ash content. In order to improve the compatibility of the components in the polymer-filler mixture, a compatibilizer of the Exxelor PO1040 brand was used, which is a graft copolymer of polyethylene with maleic anhydride (content of maleic anhydride 5.6 wt %). According to the data obtained, loading of the compatibilizer con-tributed to a significant improvement in the compatibility of the filler with the polymer, which was expressed in an increase in the strength properties of the composites. A theoretical substantiation is given for the regularities found in the change in the physical-mechanical properties of compo-sites depending on the dispersion and concentration of thermal ash. IR spectral analysis of the composites showed characteristic absorption bands of thermal ash alone and as part of low density polyethylene. The shift of absorption bands in the composition of the polymer matrix made it pos-sible to assert the probability of physical interaction of macrochains with the surface of thermal ash particles. The results of the study of the melt flow index of composites are presented. It has been established that loading of thermal ash in some cases leads to an increase in the fluidity of the melt of polymer composites.