Powder production from recycled low-density polyethylene waste and doum palm nuts for light weight engineering application: A circular economy approach

Abstract

The circular economy approach has been established as a possible solution to the increasing menace of hazardous waste materials. Despite the advances in science and technology, the world still struggles with the disposal and management of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) waste. This study presents the potential of recycled waste LDPE known as “pure water sachets” (PWS) and doum palm nut (DPN) as raw materials for lightweight structural engineering applications. Powder samples were produced from the different compositions of PWS and DPN heated in a controlled environment. The heating temperatures ranged from 250 to 350 o C while the holding time was 60, 90, and 120 minutes. The fixed mass of each powder sample was compacted into cylindrical pellets, only G and H samples had sufficient strength to be handled after compaction. Sample G is a compact from the powder with 40% DPN, 60% PWS, heated to 350 o C for 60 minutes while sample H is from the powder with 60% DPN and 40% PWS, heated to 350 o C for 90 minutes. The micrographs showed that sample G was more homogeneous than sample H and contained fewer voids. F-TIR analysis conducted on the samples shows C-H functional group at 2915 and 2845 cm -1 , 1460 cm -1 , and 700 cm -1 which is similar to low-density polyethylene. The X-ray diffraction analysis conducted on the fabricated samples shows that the doum palm nut sample had an amorphous feature while the samples G and H show a semi-crystalline feature. The sample G had a density of 1.0 g/cm 3 and a hardness value of 10.2 HV making it useful for Printed circuit board substrates. • This study is concerned with taking advantage of the vast amount of plastic and agro-waste and recycling to develop compatible powder for lightweight engineering applications e.g. printed circuit board substrates. Doum palm nut (DPN) and waste pure water sachet were processed into powder using different heating temperature regimes and different holding times. The chemical, mechanical and thermal behavior of the compacted powder was investigated.