Investigation of properties of molded parts made of polyethylene with addition of ash from bituminous coal
Adam Gnatowski, Ewa Kazik, Paweł Palutkiewicz
Quarterly No. 3, 2018 pages 127-132
DOI:
keywords: polymer composites, polyethylene, fly ash, hardness, tensile strength, color, gloss
abstract The aim of the conducted research was to determine the effect of filler in the form of microspheres from fly ash being a product of bituminous coal combustion on the functional properties of polyethylene. Comparative analysis of unfilled polyethylene and polyethylene with additions of 5, 10 and 15% (wt.) fly ash from bituminous coal was carried out. Tests of the mechanical properties were performed: tensile strength, hardness determined by the Shore method and the ball indentation method. Color and gloss analysis was also performed. On the basis of the conducted tests, it was found that the modification of polyethylene with fly ash from coal combustion has a significant impact on the functional properties of the tested materials. The molded parts from unfilled polyethylene exhibited the lowest value of hardness, while the largest value of hardness was obtained by parts made of polyethylene with 15 wt.% filler content. The content of fly ash from bituminous coal combustion also affects the tensile strength and elongation of the tested materials. As the filler increases, its tensile strength decreases. As a result of the addition of the filler, changes in the coordinates describing the color, as well as a reduction in the brightness value and a reduction in the gloss degree for the angles of incidence of 60° and 20° were noted. The presented research results indicate that producing polyethylene composites with the addition of microspheres from fly ash originating from bituminous coal combustion gives the possibility to obtain composites with significantly better mechanical properties as compared to unfilled polyethylene. The use of fly ash from the combustion of bituminous coal as a filler results in obtaining an inexpensive filler compared to fillers used in industry today. At the same time, it contributes to reducing the amount of waste generated from the combustion of bituminous coal. The test results give the possibility to use the composites produced in various industries as a raw material for the production of various engineering elements.