EFFECTS OF REINFORCEMENT LOADING ON PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF DEVELOPED RECYCLED LOW DENSITY POLYETHYLENE/MAIZE COB ASH PARTICULATE COMPOSITE.

Abstract

Recycling of empty water sachet (commonly called pure water nylon) and maize cob, which are all waste released

into the environment in Nigeria into useful materials of good physical and mechanical properties has been reported.

Efforts have now been made to analyze the effects of reinforcement loading on the physical and mechanical

properties of the developed composite material. The empty water sachet was used as a matrix, which was reinforced

by maize cob ash particulate. The composites were compounded and compressively moulded. The analysis revealed

that the results obtained at 20-25wt%MCSp indicate that some mechanical properties such as hardness values,

density, young’s modulus, flexural strength, impact energy and thermal properties are similar to LFRT. The

developed composites had the better properties at the ranges of 20-25wt%MCSp additions, and for optimum service

condition, maize cob particle addition should not exceed 20% to enhance better properties.