Mechanical properties of high density polyethylene and its composite

Abstract

Composne materials involve a system where reinforcing material is added to a plastic resin matrix. Resin is reinforced with fiber or other fillers, to overcome the fatigue failure, to resist a corrosive environment, to improve the physical and mechanical properties and to develop energy absorption capacity of the composite. This paper presents an analysis of the mechanical properties of the High Density Polyethylene and its jute fiber-reinforced polymeric composite. A number of HOPE resin matrix specimens were manufactured on a hand injection-molding machine. Here jute fibers were employed as a filler material. Jute is an attractive natural fiber for use as reinforcement in composite because of its low cost, renewable nature and much lower energy requirement for processing. The jute fibers were straightly reinforced to the HOPE resin matrix to fabricate the composite specimens. Tensile tests were carried on a universal testing machine to find out and compare the mechanical properties. The test results indicate significant improvement in mechanical properties of the composite as compared to HDPE. Microscopic tests were carried out to observe of the fractured planes of the specimens and the fracture mechanism was identi1ied