Influence of the addition of different fillers on the properties of hybrid composite recycled polyethylene/cotton linter fibers/montmorillonite clay

Abstract

Hybrid polymer composites have been proven to be an alternative to the conventional ones that use only one filler in the polymeric matrix. In this study, the effect of the addition of cotton linter fibers (CLF) and/or montmorillonite (MMT) nanoclay as fillers in recycled polyethylene (PER) composites was evaluated with and without using maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene (PE– g–MAH) as an interfacial compatibilizing agent. The presence of titanium dioxide (TiO2) used as a color additive was confirmed by the characterizations of PER. It was found that the rheological, morphological, and mechanical properties of PER were significantly altered by adding fillers, owing to the difference in shape and composition of these fillers. The results of the characterizations showed evidence of double or triple interaction with the reactive groups of PE– g–MAH and the hydroxyl (–OH) present in CLF, MMT, and TiO2.