Characterization and rheological properties of hybrid fillers filled high density polyethylene bio-composite / Noor Zuhaira Abd Aziz

As the world tries to minimise possible harmful destruction of our
environment and move towards GO GREEN Agenda, hybrid fillers
have been widely used as alternative reinforcing filler for thermoplastic
polymer composite. One of the most characteristic features of hybrid
composite lies in its balanced performance of strength, as well as other
properties, which include manufacturing cost. In this research, different
fillers were used to obtain optimal hybrid composite composition from
kenaf, rice husk (RH) and calcium carbonate (CaCO3). Different varying
compositions up to 30 wt% of mixed kenaf and rice husk with CaCO3
were compounded with 40-70 wt% of high density polyethylene (HDPE)
using twin screw extruded at 50rpm, to produce two different hybrid
composites, HDPE/kenaf/CaCO3 and HDPE/rice husk/CaCO3. Properties
of hybrid composites were compared between particulate CaCO3/kenaf
fibrous form and CaCO3/rice husk particulate form. Hybrid composites
were tested for physical, mechanical, thermal, burning rate and rheological
behaviour. From test results, addition of filler had decreased melt flow
index (MFI) up to 72% and increased density of hybrid composites up
to 19%. In general, addition of both natural fibres, either kenaf or rice
husk with CaCO3 decreased the tensile strength, elongation, and impact..