TITLE:
Mechanical Properties of Fly Ash Filled High Density Polyethylene
AUTHORS:
Iftekhar Ahmad, Prakash A. Mahanwar
KEYWORDS:
composites; fly ash; mechanical properties; polyethylene.
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Minerals and Materials Characterization and Engineering,
Vol.9 No.3,
March
20,
2010
ABSTRACT: Effect of fly ash as filler in mechanical properties of HDPE is described in this study. Three
different particle size of fly ash was used. Concentration of fly ash was varied up to 40 % by
weight. The composites were prepared using twin screw extruder and then test specimens were
prepared by injection molding. Tensile, flexural and impact properties were tested. The
microstructure was investigated through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the fractured
samples. Both tensile and flexural strengths and moduli were found to increase with fly ash
addition. Tensile elongation drastically reduced at fly ash concentration greater than 10%. With
increasing fly ash concentration impact resistance decreased up to about 15% fly ash
concentration and then did not reduce significantly on further addition. Composites with
smallest size fly ash particles proved to be better in enhancing strength and relative elongation.
Modulus and impact resistance did not seem to depend much on particle size.