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Rotational molding of polyethylene composites based on agave fibers
Author(s) -
LópezBañuelos R.H.,
Moscoso F.J.,
OrtegaGudiño P.,
Mendizabal E.,
Rodrigue D.,
GonzálezNúñez R.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.23168
Subject(s) - materials science , composite material , agave , ultimate tensile strength , polyethylene , fiber , molding (decorative) , compression molding , flexural strength , rotational speed , high density polyethylene , mold , mechanical engineering , archaeology , engineering , history
In this study, agave fiber/linear medium density polyethylene composites were manufactured by rotational molding. A laboratory scale biaxial machine was used, where the internal air temperature during the processing cycle was measured. Two sizes of agave fibers (50 and 100 mesh) were used separately and mixed together (50/50) at concentrations varying between 0 and 15 wt%. The initial mixtures were obtained by dry blending, rotomolded under different operation conditions (oven temperature, processing cycle time, and rotational speeds), and the final pieces were compared. For each process condition, a complete morphological analysis was performed to relate with mechanical properties in terms of tensile, impact, and flexural strength. The results show that there is an optimum fiber concentration around 10%, and blending fiber sizes gave better tensile properties than using each size alone. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers