AN INVESTIGATION ON THE EFFECTS OF FINE-PARTICULATE FILLER ON THE PROPERTIES OF A ROTOMOLDING-GRADE POLYETHYLENE

摘要

This paper examines the influence of adding a fine-particulate industrial by-product namely fly ash as reinforcing filler into a rotomolding-grade polyethylene. The compounds of various filler contents were added either by dry-blended or by-melt-compounded, and their rotomolded parts were analyzed to check fro their appearances, processabilities, and mechanical properties. In terms of rotomoldability, it was possible to add the filler up to about 10% without dramatically affecting the part removal capability. In terms of stiffness, a slight improvement was made at such filler loading; however, the impact properties were drastically reduced even a small amount of the filler was present.