CARACTERIZACIÓN DE COMPUESTOS A BASE DE POLIOLEFINAS Y CONCHAS DE MAR

The aim of this work was to evaluate the possibility of using seashells, materials made out of approximately 80% Calcium Carbonate, as fillers for Polypropylene (PP), High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and a PP/HDPE 80/20 blend, in search of waste materials that result economically attractive and of easy to process. The incorporation of different filler percentages (7, 14 and 22 phr) to the polymers was done by means of a twin screw extruder; then testing specimens were molded by means of an injection molding machine. Mechanical, thermal and rheological testing was done to the prepared composites. It can be concluded that the addition of seashells to PP, HDPE and to a PP/HDPE blend slightly increased the viscosity of the composites, and it also increased Young’s Modulus and thermal stability. The incorporation of a coupling agent (Lica 12), did not affect significantly any of the properties of the composites.