Cutting stone waste, polyethylene, DSC, Mechanical properties

Shadi Sawalha's picture

Utilization of Stone cutting waste powder as a compounding filler for polyethylene

Journal Title, Volume, Page: 
International Journal of Environment and Water, 4, 122
Year of Publication: 
2015
Authors: 
Hassan Sawalha
An-Najah National University, Palestine Polytechnic University
Shadi Sawalha
An-Najah National University
Tahreer Yousef
Walaa' Abu Saa
Hiba Al-Sheikh
Preferred Abstract (Original): 
The present study aims at studying the possibility of compounding polyethylene using stone cutting solid waste (lime stone powder). Stone cutting waste powder (SCWP) mainly consists of calcium carbonate is usually disposed in open fields, roadside, sewage and agricultural land leading to several environmental and health problems. Samples of SCWP were collected and screened into different sizes. Polyethylene was compounded with the SCWP using an extruder and the compounded product was thermally pressed into sheets using thermal press machine. The mechanical and thermal properties of the resulting sheets were tested. The results showed that the melt flow index of the composite sheets increases with decreasing the SCWP size, whereas it decreases with increasi elastic modules of the composites increased with increasing the SCWP content whereas the tensile strength decreased. The elastic modulus decreases dramatically with increasing the particle size of the SCWP up to a certain particle which it starts increasing with increasing the particle size. The addition of the SCWP improved crystallinity of the composites, however very high SCWP content disrupted the crystalline structure of polymer. The maximum value of melt g/min), tensile strength (11 MPa) and degree of crystallinity (53%) were obtained with the sample prepared with 30% w/w of 0.15 mm SCWP particles. On the other hand, the maximum elastic modulus value of (490 MPa) was obtained with the sampl with 60% w/w of 0.15 mm SCWP. The main conclusion of the current study is that SCWP can be successfully utilized in improving the mechanical and thermal properties of polyethylene which helps in reducing the environmental impact of SCWP. 
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