Properties of Chicken Feather Fiber-Filled Low-Density Polyethylene Composites: The Effect of Polyethylene Grafted Maleic Anhydride

• Published in: Polymer-plastics technology and engineering Vol. 52; no. 5; pp. 495 - 500
• Main Authors: Ghani, Supri A., Tan, Soo Jin, Yeng, Teh Soo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, PA Taylor & Francis Group 09.04.2013; Taylor & Francis; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Chicken feather fiber; Chickens; Composites; Density; Exact sciences and technology; Feathers; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Grafting; Low-density polyethylene; Maleic anhydride; Morphology; Polyethylene-grafted maleic anhydride; Polyethylenes; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Rotor speed; Technology of polymers; Polyethylene-grafted maleic anhydride; Fiber reinforced material; Mechanical properties; Tensile property; Chicken feather fiber; Organic anhydride; Experimental study; Functional polymer; Composite material; Tensile strength; Thermal stability; Coupling agent; Young modulus; Thermal properties; Low density ethylene polymer; Natural fiber; Morphology; Low-density polyethylene; Concentration effect; Animal fiber; Olefin polymer; Animal waste; Thermal degradation
• ISSN: 0360-2559; 1525-6111
• DOI: 10.1080/03602559.2012.762018

The effects of polyethylene grafted maleic anhydride on tensile properties, morphology, thermal degradation, and swelling behavior of low density polyethylene/chicken feather fiber composites were studied. The LDPE/CFF composites were prepared using a Z-Blade mixer at 180°C and rotor speed of 50 rpm for 15 min. LDPE/CFF/PEgMAH composites exhibit higher tensile strength, Young's modulus, and final decomposition temperature, but lower mass swell percentage and elongation at break than LDPE/CFF composites. SEM morphology showed that the chicken feather fiber more widely dispersed in the LDPE matrix with the addition of polyethylene grafted maleic anhydride as a coupling agent. It was also found that the addition of PEgMAH offers better thermal stability in LDPE/CFF/PEgMAH composites than LDPE/CFF composites.