STUDIES ON EFFECT OF MALEATED POLYETHYLENE COMPATIBILIZER ON SOME MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF KOLA NUT FILLED LOW DENSITY POLYETHYLENE

Some mechanical properties of kola nut filled low density polyethylene (LDPE) have been investigated at filler loadings of 0 to 5 wt. % using 250?m filler particle size. The effect of maleated polyethylene (MAPE) compatibilizer on some mechanical properties of LDPE composites was also investigated . The low density polyethylene composites with or without MAPE were prepared using an injection moulding machine. Results show that the tensile strength at yield, break, and strain of LDPE composites decreased with increases in filler loadings. The addition of MAPE compatibilizer was found to significantly improve the tensile strength at yield, break and strain. However, at higher MAPE contents, these properties decreased .The energy at break, modulus, impact strength, hardness and flexural strength were found to increase with increases in filler loadings and were further improved upon by the addition of MAPE compatibilizer.