Physical and Mechanical Properties of Rapeseed Waste-filled LLDPE Composites
(447-458) Journal of Thermoplastic Composite Materials 24 #3 (2011)
Abstract
Zabihzadeh et al, Iran, made flat-pressed composites using linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) and rapeseed waste by hot pressing.  The modulus of elasticity and flexural strength were mainly influenced by the filler content.  The flexural strength was shown to decrease significantly with an increase in the filler content, while the flexural modulus increased insignificantly.  With the increase of the filler content, the water absorption and the thickness swelling were increased significantly due to the strong hydrophilicity of lignocellulosic filler.  Water absorption was proved to follow the kinetics of a Fickian diffusion process. The swelling model presented by Shi and Gardner provided a very good prediction of the hygroscopic swelling process of rapeseed/LLDPE composite panels.  (RDC 7/5/2011)