RECYCLING OF BHIMAL FIBERS REINFORCED CHEMICALLY FUNCTIONALIZED HIGH-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE COMPOSITES

Abstract

Bhimal fibre (BMF) reinforced chemically functionalized high-density polyethylene (CFHDPE) composites (BMF/CF-HDPE) composites have been recycled by extrusion followed by injection molding and the recycled composites R-(BMF/CF-HDPE) are compared with the original. The composites have been recycled one time. To verify the retainment of BMF fibre/CF-HDPE matrix adhesion in the recycled composites, the FE-SEM morphology and FTIR experiments have been done which confirm that the BMF fibre/CF-HDPE matrix adhesion has been retained in the recycled composites. The UTM experiments demonstrated that after recycling, the recycled composites R-(BMF/CF-HDPE) composites showed lower mechanical strength than the original composites, but showed higher than the R-(CF-HDPE). The thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) shows that higher thermal stability of the recycled composites decreases with increasing reinforcement contents in them. The recycled composites also have some potential for a few applications.