The study of structure and thermal properties of the polyethylene and composites polyethylene with cardboard fibre after soaking and ultraviolet radiation ageing
Adam Gnatowski
Quarterly No. 3, 2009 pages 238-237
DOI:
keywords: composites, thermal properties, cardboard fibre, structure, ultraviolet radiation ageing, soaking
abstract In this work the results of investigations of thermal properties and structure PEHD with addition of cardboard fibre were presented. Polymeric composites play crucial role in development of application of technological polymers. The main purpose of polymeric composites manufacturing is wish to eliminate or reduce drawbacks which polymers are characterised with and also to strive for reduction of the price of expensive polymers with particular, very precious properties by mixing them with cheaper fillers but without significant deterioration of their properties. Polymer mixing with fillers is presently one of the most effective and the most intensely developing methods of physical properties modification for polymers. The importance of polymer mixing with fillers is still on the increase. The properties of the polymer composites depend significantly on the type of the components and also on the mixing method including the order of the components adding. That kind of influence manifests especially in the change of the thermal properties and structure. In this work composites with content of 2, 4, 6% of cardboard fibre in relation to the polyethylene have been produced. The investigations for the influence of the fillers on the properties of prepared composites before and after soaking and ultraviolet radiation ageing have been conducted. Investigations of crystallinity degree by means of DSC method as well as investigations of the structure using optical microscope have been conducted. The DSC investigations prove the decrease in the crystallinity degree of PEHD during addition of cardboard fibre and increase for the samples after soaking and ultraviolet radiation ageing. While increasing the amount of cardboard fibre in the composite the Vicat softening temperature and absorptivity of water decreases for the samples before soaking and ultraviolet radiation ageing.