Effects of Organic Fillers on the Physico-Mechanical Properties of Low Density Polyethylene

Abstract

The effects of some animal materials, viz feather, hide and hoof, as fillers for low density polyethylene were investigated. Composites of varying weight percentages of fillers in fixed weight of the polymer resins were produced for each filler type by the injection moulding technique. The physico-mechanical properties of the composites prepared showed variations in the properties such as, tensile strength, elongation at break, compressive strength, flexural strength and surface hardness. The hoof filler is seen to exhibit the best reinforcing properties, followed by hide and lastly feather. These organic materials of animal origin can be used as fillers and mainly as biodegradable fillers for polymer resins and form bio-plastics.