STUDY OF MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF DRILLING MUD WASTE FILLED LOW DENSITY POLYETHYLENE COMPOSITE

Polymer composites filled with low weight fractions of drilling mud wastes were prepared with a locally fabricated single-screw extruder. Low density polyethylene (LDPE) was the type of polymer selected as matrix for the composites. The mechanical properties of LDPE virgin resin, recycled LDPE, and LDPE containing 2.5wt% and 5.0wt% drilling mud waste-polymer composites has been studied. Yield and tensile strength, percentage elongation, the modulus of elasticity, density, hardness (SHORE D), and indentation were determined for each sample. It was found that drilling mud waste had no significant impact on the mechanical properties of LDPE. As compared to the mechanical properties of unfilled LDPE, drilling mud waste (DMW)-filled polymer composites showed lower yield and tensile strength, % elongation and indentation, while the modulus of elasticity was higher than that of LDPE.