Properties of chicken feather fiber/tyre dust hybrid composition filled recycled high density polyethylene composites

Abstract

The composites of chicken feather fiber (CFF)/recycled high density polyethylene (RHDPE), tyre dust (TD)/recycled high density polyethylene (R-HDPE), and hybrid fillers composite between chicken feather fiber (CFF)/tyre dust (TD)/recycled high density polyethylene (R-HDPE) were studied. Both composites were prepared by using Brabender Plasticoder at 160 °C with rotor speed of 50 of rpm. The effect of CFF, TD content and various type of compatibilizer on tensile properties, mass swell percentage, morphological properties, spectroscopy infrared and XRD characterization of R-HDPE/CFF, R-HDPE/TD and R-HDPE/TD/CFF composites were investigated. The compatibilizer used in this study was maleic anhydride (MAH), phthalic anhydride (PA), and polyethylene grafted maleic anhydride (PE-g-MAH). The increasing of filler loading leads to decreased the tensile strength and elongation at break of R-HDPE/CFF and R-HDPE/TD composite while the modulus of elasticity and interparticle spacing (d) was increased. It was also found that increasing of CFF content in the composition of TD/CFF of hybrid filler decreased the tensile strength, elongation at break while the modulus of elasticity and interparticle spacing (d) was increased. The incorporation of MAH, PA and PE-g-MAH as compatibilizer in R-HDPE/TD/CFF hybrid filler composites exhibit an improvement in the tensile strength and modulus of elasticity whereas decreased in the elongation at break, mass swell percentage and interparticle spacing (d). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) successfully illustrates the dispersion of fillers in the matrix. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) also show that the incorporation of both compatibilizer improved interfacial adhesion and tensile fracture between R-HDPE and TD/CFF. FTIR analysis proved the presence of MAH, PA and PE-g-MAH in the R-HDPE/TD/CFF hybrid composites.