Study on the Mechanical Properties of Low- Density Polyethylene Cow Horn Powder Composite

Abstract

Composite formulation has a significant impact on the mechanical properties of polymer materials. This study describes the mechanical properties of cow horn powder reinforced with waste low density polyethylene. The study was performed by recycling waste low density polyethylene and compounding it with the ground cow horn (the white Bororo cow horn). Mechanical and Fourier Transformed infra-red (FTIR) analysis was investigated for various compositions by weight of the formulated samples. The results obtained indicated that the properties of the composites varied with identified properties of the filler reinforcements. The results also showed that the control sample, (which consisted of 150 Mics WLDPE/CH 100/0) had the least tensile test and yield strength of 14.40 Mpa and 3.60 Mpa respectively, while the 150 Mics WLDPE/CH 90/10 had the optimum elastic modulus of 17.54 Mpa and the lowest elongation at break of 359.71%. The infrared spectra of the filler samples revealed absorption peaks within the ranges 4000-650cm-1. The characteristic absorption peaks for the stretch and bend vibrations for the treated and untreated cow horn fillers were 3678 cm-1 and 3652 cm1 . Our results gave evidence that composite combinations of low-density polyethylene have enhanced mechanical and morphological properties.