Investigation on physical and mechanical properties of Nanocomposites made From flour of pistachio Shell/HDPE/Nanoclay/MAPE

In this study, effects of flour content and nanoclay loading on the physical and mechanical properties of wood plastic composite were investigated. Flour of cellulosic shell of Pistachio in levels of 30, 40 and 50 and nano clay of cloisite 15A in three levels (0, 3 and 5%) was mixed with high density polyethylene (HDPE). Samples were made with a laboratory twin-screw extruder and then injection molding. The heating temperature profile and rotational speed of the screws were set to 60 rpm at 160, 170, and180 °C, respectively. Mechanical properties including tensile and flexural properties as well as notched impact strength and physical properties including water absorption and thickness swelling were measured. The results showed that flexural and tensile modulus and strength, notched impact resistance, water absorption and thickness swelling of the samples increased as the flour content increased from 30 to 50% (w/w). Furthermore, flexural and tensile modulus and strength, water absorption and thickness swelling of the samples decreased as the Nannoclay content increased from 0 to 5% (w/w), but notched impact resistance increased.