Preliminary Study of Development of HDPE/EVA/MMT/EFB Nanohybrid Biocomposite by Using Single Screw Extruder

Abstract

This work study the mechanical properties (tensile, flexural and impact) of four different formulation of HDPE/EVA/MMT nanocomposite with present of 1.5 phr compatibilizer as a preliminary study before further development of HDPE/EVA/MMT/EFB nanohybrid biocomposite. The ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) was varied from 0, 10, 20 and 30 wt%. Meanwhile the nanoclay montmorillonite (MMT) was varied from 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 phr. HDPE/EVA/MMT ternary blends were prepared by melt extrusion blending technique using a single screw extruder. The result found that in absent of nanoclay MMT, the tensile and flexural properties (strength and modulus) of HDPE/EVA/1.5 phr compatibilizer were decreased as EVA amount are increased. Meanwhile in absent of EVA gave the highest tensile and flexural strength which are 38.53 MPa and 35.02 MPa respectively. However the trend is reciprocal for impact strength. The Izod impact test found that 30 wt% EVA give the highest impact strength which is 103.88 J/m , followed by 20 wt% EVA, 10wt % EVA and 0 wt% EVA which are 59.91 J/m, 38.11 J/m and 30.63 J/m respectively. This is because EVA plays a role as impact modifier. Meanwhile incorporation of nanoclay MMT improved the tensile and flexural properties but reducing the impact properties.