Studies on the effect of electron beam irradiation on waste polyethylene and its blends with virgin polyethylene

Abstract

Waste polyethylene (WPE) was segregated from the municipality solid waste, cleaned, dried, and chopped into pieces, then processed in a Brabender Plasticorder using the melt mixing technique. Blends of WPE and virgin polyethylene were prepared in various proportions under optimized process conditions. Of the various blend proportions studied, 70/30 blend of WPE/low density polyethylene (LDPE) and 50/50 blend of WPE/high density polyethylene showed better mechanical properties and hence selected for further modification involving electron beam irradiation. Aforementioned blends were exposed to various doses of electron beam irradiation and the effect of irradiation on physicomechanical properties such as tensile strength, flexural modulus, hardness, and impact resistance were studied. Thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction studies, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and gel content were considered to characterize the blends. Physicomechanical properties improved to an appreciable extent on irradiation but the elongation at break reduced drastically. Blow molding of the 70/30 WPE/LDPE blend could be done successfully to make bottles.

Influence of fly ash cenospheres on performance of coir fiber‐reinforced recycled high‐density polyethylene biocomposites

“…2 However, recycling is usually accompanied by degradation and deterioration of their technical properties. 10-15%), poly vinyl chloride (PVC) (approx.…”

Mechanical, dynamic mechanical, and thermal characterization of fly ash and nanostructured fly ash‐waste polyethylene/high‐density polyethylene blend composites

“…From this MSW, the WPE was segregated consisting of mostly HDPE and small quantities of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) and LDPE with minor proportions of PP and Polystyrene (PS) [17]. The WPE was cleaned in detergent solution in a washing machine and dried in air in absence of sunlight.…”

“…Our earlier works [15,16] have focused on the beneficial properties of using FA/NFA into WPE and HDPE matrices separately with various modifications proving size reduction of FA from micron to nanolevel to be useful criterion for future use. We have reported previously [17] that the blending of WPE with virgin HDPE at various proportions had WPE/HDPE blend in the ratio 50:50 to have good mechanical properties. In this work, the detail property spectrum of the FA/NFA reinforced WPE/ HDPE (50:50) blends was studied upon subjecting it to various modifications.…”

Change of notch impact strength depending on radiation dose and test temperature

“…All of these types significantly differ, however during these all process the energy transfer to atoms of irradiated material occurs [1][2][3][4][5][6]. As stated in previous investigations [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16], it is possible to effectively change physical, mechanical and biological properties of irradiated material by ionizing radiation. These changes are probably caused by primary and secondary processes which are created due to interaction of ionizing radiation with polymer [1,2].…”