Tensile and Impact Properties of Polyethylene/ Olive Mill Sludge Composites

In this study، mechanical properties of high density polyethylene (as matrix) and olive mill sludge (as filler / reinforcement) composites were investigated. There levels of paper sludge (15، 30، 40 and 50 wt %) were used to produce composites. The effect of maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene (MAPE) as coupling agent on the mechanical properties composite was investigated and then، these composites (with coupling agent) were compared with composites without coupling agent. For blending materials from extruder and produce of mechanical standard sample from injection molding were used. Mechanical properties containing tensile properties (modulus of elasticity and tensile strength) and impact strength were studied. The result of obtaining from modulus of elasticity showed that with adding olive mill sludge to the polyethylene cause to signification increasing in modulus of elasticity were compared to pure polyethylene. Tensile strength composite increasing with adding olive mill sludge compared to pure polyethylene but maximum measure of tensile strength related to composites contain 30% olive mill sludge and coupling agent. Also adding 15% olive mill sludge to polyethylene cause to improved impact strength in compared pure polyethylene، but with adding more olive mill sludge (30، 40 and 50%)، impact strength in composites were decreased. The used of coupling agent in the total manufactured composite cause to improved in impact strength of composites. The addition of a coupling agent (MAPE) to the composition resulted in an increase in mechanical properties of the composites that indicating enhanced matrix–olive mill sludge interfacial adhesion.