| Abstract Scope |
The polylactic acid (PLA) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) waste were recycled and reinforced with varying amount of graphene and silica powder respectively to produce composites using a hot extrusion procedure. Characterization of the waste plastics was done in terms of their glass transition temperature, melt flow index, density, tensile properties and melting temperature using prescribed methods. The results revealed that the maximum tensile strength, elastic modulus, elongation at break and melt flow index were obtained for the blended HDPE and PLA as 41.58MPa, 67.64MPa, 44.52% and 1.25g/10min respectively and graphene reinforced waste plastics composites(for PLA/graphene: 45.33MPa, 68.15MPa, 55.90% and 16.05g/10min respectively and for HDPE/graphene: 51.97MPa, 38.74MPa, 80.59%, and 1.89g/10min) when compared with the pristine plastics composites (HDPE: 27.07MPa, 45.00MPa, 63.89%, and 1.11g/10min and PLA: 41.32MPa, 93.53MPa, 31.40%, and 8.3g/10min). The silica reinforced waste plastics were of low values when compared with the graphene reinforced composites and blended waste plastics. |