Evaluation of the mechanical properties of recycled low-density polyethylene/bean pod particulate bio-composites

Abstract

Abstract

The effect of bean pod particles on the properties of recycled low-density polyethylene (RLDPE) composites was studied. The RLDPE/bean pod particles composites were produced using compounding and compressive moulding techniques. Factorial design of experiment and analysis of variance were employed for optimization. The mechanical properties and microstructure of the composites were determined. The hardness, flexural and tensile strengths were higher for the composites than the polymer matrix. The fairly uniform distribution of the bean pod particles in the microstructure of the composites is the major factor responsible for the improvement in the mechanical properties. The developed composite materials can be used in eco-friendly building materials for outdoor and indoor applications. Since the results obtained at the optimized condition conform to properties of composites used for this purpose.

Keywords:

• microstructure
• mechanical
• statistical studies
• composites fabrication

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.