A Study On Mechanical And Thermal Properties Of High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Glass Fiber Composites

The effects of glass fiber addition on mechanical and thermal properties of high
density polyethylene (HDPE) glass fiber composites were studied. HDPE pellets
were obtained from PT Lotte Chemical Titan along with chopped strand glass fiber
mat, and the synthesis of neat samples and composites were carried out following
the mix formulation of 10% wt., 15% wt. and 20% wt. of glass fibers. The
properties of the synthesized samples were studied by characterization analysis,
mechanical testing and thermal decompostition analysis. It was found that the 20%
wt. HDPE glass fiber composites obtained the highest value for tensile strength and
modulus, which were 38.83 N/mm2 and 5000000 kN/m2,, respectively. However,
the percentage of elongation portrays an inverse pattern, with the 20% HDPE glass
fiber composites only showing an elongation of 13.7%, compared to neat HDPE
with elongation of 46.3%. Furthermore, the decomposition temperature of 20% wt.
HDPE glass fiber composites marked the highest, which was 435°C. Based on
SEM analysis, the differences in microstructure for different ranges of glass fibers
used were observed, along with the disintegration of glass fibers that occured at
samples’ failure points.