Characterization of highly loaded calcium carbonate filled high density polyethylene composites

Abstract

The processing and mechanical properties of calcium carbonate filled high density polyethylene composites with varying filler volume fraction up to 0.40 were investigated. Using scanning electron microscopy technique, a good dispersion of calcium carbonate in the high density polyethylene matrix can be found. The results from density measurement and thermogravimetric analysis show that the composites have a satisfactory ratio of filler volume fraction. From Raman spectra, it can be found that the oxidation of polyethylene matrix in the composites does not occur. For the mechanical properties, the increasing of tensile Young’s modulus with filler volume fraction is accompanied by the reduction of tensile strength and strain at break of the composites. The theoretical models were examined to fit the experimental data. From differential scanning calorimetry results, it can be found that annealing treatment increases crystallinity of the polyethylene matrix which results in higher Young’s modulus and tensile strength of the composites for the same volume fraction of the filler.