Preparation and Characterization of High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Waste filled with Rice husk Silica (RHS) Composites in Gwagwalada metropolis, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria

Abstract

The adverse effects of use of plastics by human beings are on the increase and become challenging with the growing population. The non-degradability of plastics products such as bottles, cans, cups, bags which resulted into blockage of culverts, drains, suffocating animal’s life. This research focused on recycling of high density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic waste with rice husk silica (RHS) from agricultural waste of rice husks to form eco-friendly polymer composites. Different proportions of 0.5 to 3.0 % rice husk silica (RHS) as filler were melt mixed with maleic anhydride grafted high density polyethylene (HDPE) material and the composite analyzed for tensile and flexural strengths. The tensile strengths ranged values from 10.49 to 13.02 MPa for the resin (vHDPE) and the recycled (rHDPE) composites presented values from 8.30 and 12.41 MPa for 0.5and 3.0% filler loading, respectively. The peak flexural strengths recorded for recycled (rHDPE) and resins (vHDPE) composites are 12.19 MPa and 12.05 MPa for 0.5 and 3.0% filler loading, respectively. The tensile strength of rice husk silica (RHS) filled HDPE waste composites are higher than that of the waste HDPE (control) and thus, the filler reinforced the HDPE. The composite prepared is suitable for use as tiles in building application to solve leaching problems associated with paint coating.