Dynamic rheological properties of spotted mangrove/high-density polyethylene composites

Abstract

This study describes the viscoelastic characterizations of unmodified and heat-modified mangrove particle (MP)-filled high-density polyethylene (HDPE) composites. The untreated (unmodified) and treated (modified) MPs were compounded with HDPE matrix at 10, 20 and 30 wt% in a twin-screw extruder and compression moulded into thin sheets for rheological characterizations (amplitude and frequency sweeps). The amplitude sweeps of the dynamic rheological analysis indicated that 20 wt% treated composite has the highest linear viscoelastic region of 0.1% with the highest storage and loss modulus of 1310 and 150 kPa, respectively. The frequency sweep showed an increase in storage and loss moduli as particle loading increased. The zero shear viscosities of pure HDPE were nearly 3990 Pa·s, while the MP-reinforced HDPE composites were ≥185,440 Pa·s with treated composites exhibiting higher values.