Composites of Low-Density Polyethylene and Castor Presscake

Abstract

Composites of low density polyethylene were prepared by melt mixing in a co-rotating twin screw extruder. Castor presscake, a biodiesel process co-product, was used as filler for the polyethylene composites. Different concentrations of this filler were added to the polymer matrix. Melt flow index and. mechanical properties were measured by following standardized tests. The results showed that the addition of the filler to the polymer matrix provoked an increase on the values of Young Modulus and on the flexural properties. However, the impact strength and the tensile stress values tended to decrease with the increasing of the filler concentration.

Keywords:

• Castor presscake
• Composit
• Low density polyethylene

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors are very grateful to Brazilian agencies: FAPERJ and CNPQ for research fellowships. The authors also would like to express their appreciation for material donation from Petroquímica União and Embrapa.