Preparation of Composite Material from low Density Polyethylene and Ginkgo Shell Powder

Abstract

Composite material were successfully prepared from low density polyethylene (LDPE) and ginkgo shell powder with the mixing ratios of 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 phr of ginkgo shell powders. The LDPE and ginkgo shell powder were compounded via twin screw extruder. The density of the compounds were 0.93-0.95 g/cm³. The melt flow rate was approximately 2.97-3.73 g/10 min. It can be concluded that the density and viscosity increased when the ginkgo shell powders increased. After that, the sheets were prepared from the compounds by compression molding at 190°C. The hardness increased when the powder contents increased because of the hardness of ginkgo shell. The tensile strength and % elongation at break decreased when the powder contents increased due to agglomeration of powders. However, the Young’s modulus increased with increasing the powder contents because the powders hindered the deformation. The scanning electron micrographs showed the loss of adhesion between LDPE and the ginkgo shell powders and more gap in surface structure. Therefore, the brittle fracture increased when the powder contents increased. Moreover, the heat deflection temperature (HDT) was approximately 45.5-47.5°C, which is similar to pure LDPE