Flow and Fracture Behavior of Sand-Reinforced Low Density Polyethylene During Tensile Testing

Sandllow density polyethylene composite sampies were prepared using injection molding. The effect of some processing and structural parameters on the flow and fracture behavior ofthe prepared sampies was investigated. Typical processing parameters were melt and die temperatures. The investigated structural parameters were sand particle size and sand content. Higher meIt and die temperatures decrease the tensile strength and the modulus of elasticity for the various sand contents investigated, meanwhile, the ductility and toughness increase. Sand addition increases the tensile strength and the modulus of elasticity, as long as the sand size is smaller than 400 um . Larger particle size weakens the structure. A maximum in the tensile strength, ductility and work done to fracture is observed for sampies with apartide size of 400 um. Adhesion and interlocking are responsible for the strengthening effect below 400 um, while dewetting and interfacial friction are responsible for the reduced tensile strength and modulus ofelasticity above 400/lm.