Assessment of Thermal and Physico-Mechanical Properties in Recycled LDPE Composite Reinforced with Prosopis africana Wood Powder

Investigations were conducted into the thermal and physico-mechanical properties of recycled low-density polyethylene composites reinforced with Prosopis africana (PA). Compression molding equipment and a Two-Roll Mill were used to compound the constituents. Using standard methods, properties such as density, water absorption, tensile strength, elastic modulus, flexural strength, and hardness values were assessed. The materials were additionally put through a dynamic mechanical property test to determine how the inclusion of PA fiber affected the damping parameter, storage modulus, and loss modulus of recycled low-density polyethylene (rLDPE). Maximum flexural strength of 68.8 MPa, stiffness of 2.05 GPa, hardness of 70 Shores, and tensile strength of 58.5 MPa with a 20% weight proportion of reinforcement.In a similar vein, the results of the dynamic mechanical characteristics showed that the greatest load bearing capacity and storage modulus (1.2 GPa) for a composite containing 20% PA fiber were found (compared to 400 MPa of the unreinforced), however, as temperature and frequency increased, a drop in loss modulus was noted.