General model for comparative tensile mechanical properties of composites fabricated from fly ash and virgin/recycled high density polyethylene
The present work on the mechanical properties of =10 wt% fly ash additions in 2.5 wt% increments to recycled high density polyethylene (RHDPE) synthesizes experimental data from three similar published reports. The present work shows, as a function of increasing fly ash addition level, maxima at the initial fly ash addition level of 2.5 wt% for the tensile elastic modulus +25% and tensile strength +10% a slight general increase in the yield stress +6% and significant general decreases in the yield strain 61% elongation at break 92% and Charpy impact strength 55% Combining these data with data for higher level additions of fly ash =40 wt%/23 vol% and cenospheres =39 vol% to HDPE or RHDPE provides the basis for design parameters and a generalized model for the interpretation of failure of composites of hard brittle spherical dispersant additions in ductile polymeric matrices. The relevant load extension plots are characterized by three behavioral regions: ductile deformation (dispersion strengthening and stress concentration) crazing (debonding and cavitation) and brittle failure (fibril failure) The locations of these regions and their transitions are a function of five dependent variables: dispersant volume, dispersant particle size, intrinsic flaw size (viz. dispersant size) generated flaw size (viz. void size) and interfacial bond strength and associated load transfer. POLYM. ENG. SCI. 2016. (c) 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers