Breadfruit Leaves-Polyethylene Composites: Mechanical and Degradation Characteristic under Watered Environment

Abstract

Weathering tests in watered environment were carried on a low-cost degradable polymer composite. The low cost degradable polymeric composites were prepared from polyethylene (PE) and powdered breadfruit leaves (PBL). PBL were mixed with polyethylene in an internal mixer at a temperature above the glass transition of PE without additives. Formulations were based on 100, 90, 85, 80 and 75 dry weight % of PE contents. The effect of the powdered particle size (140 and 100 mesh) on the composite mechanical properties was evaluated by means of universal testing machine (UTM) and hardness Rockwell tester. The chemical change in terms of carbonyl transmittance was evaluated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) in wavenumber ca. 1715 cm^-1. According to the findings, adding more leaf powder increased the composites' elastic and flexural modulus. With a higher percentage of PBL in the composites, the tensile strength, yield strength, yield strain, and hardness all reduced. With the PBL present, but regardless of the content of PBL, flexural strength was somewhat reduced. In comparison to 100 mesh, the mechanical characteristics of 140 mesh PE/PBL composites were generally better. The surface of the bulk composite was made more porous using PE/PBL composites, which improved water absorption.  The carbonyl peak was fairly not observable in the composites till 10 weeks in watered environment. The mechanical degradation of the PE/PBL composites most likely governed by the absorbed water of PBL.