A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SOME MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF BAMBOO POWDER FILLED VIRGIN AND RECYCLED LOW DENSITY POLYETHYLENE COMPOSITES.

The effects of bamboo powder filler on some mechanical properties of pure and recycled low density polyethylene (VLDPE/BP and RLDPE/BP) composites were studied. In this work, composites of LDPE (VLDPE and RLDPE) and bamboo powder (BP) were prepared by melt extrusion. Pure water sachets and Bamboo stems were sourced. Recycling of the polymer (LDPE) and the preparation of the composites were carried out using locally made Laboratory-size Agglomerating Machine (agglomerator) and Single-Screw Extrusion Machine. The results of the mechanical tests carried out on the VLDPE/BP and RLDPE/BP samples showed that the tensile strength decreased with increasing filler loading for both VLDPE/BP and RLDPE/BP composites. Also the stiffness (Young’s Modulus) of the composites increased with increasing filler loading for both VLDPE/BP and RLDPE/BP composites. These results produced materials with lower void content that decreased the water sorption level with slight increase in the specific gravity of the composites. Bamboo powder incorporation to the VLDPE and RLDPE, also, enhanced the flame retardant property of the composites. The effect of recycling on the mechanical properties of LDPE was observed. Comparatively, VLDPE showed better mechanical properties than the RLDPE for all filler loading. It was observed that the tensile strength of the RLDPE is 26 % less than that of VLDPE.