Mechanical, Thermal, and Flow Properties of HDPE–Mica Composites

Abstract

A high-density polyethylene (HDPE) is compounded with surfacetreated mica in a twin-screw extruder, with filler weight fractions (øf) of 5, 10, and 15%. The tensile, flexural, impact, heat distortion temperature and melt flow properties of the composites are measured to identify the effect of mica loading on these properties. The results show that the tensile yield strength and tensile fracture strength increase nonlinearly, while the flexural strength and flexural modulus increase linearly with an addition of øf. When øf is <5%, the tensile fracture elongation of the composites increases and then reduces, while the impact strength drops down quickly, and then decreases slightly with increasing øf. The melt volume flow rate (MVR) of the composites decreases linearly with increasing øf. The heat distortion temperature of the composites increases considerably when øf is <10%, and then decreases gently.