DefinePK

Abstract

The need to produce biocomposites from agro-wastes materials with enhanced properties informed the basis of this investigation. Composites were prepared from cassava peel, eggshell and high- density polyethylene (HDPE) using an injection moulding machine. The study investigated the effects of eggshell powder (ESP) loadings of 30 wt.% and cassava peel powder (CPP) loadings of 10, 20, 30 wt.% on the mechanical, water absorption and biodegradable properties of HDPE composites. Results of the determined mechanical parameters showed a significant decrease in the tensile strength, tensile modulus, elongation-at-break, flexural strength, flexural modulus and impact strength as the CPP content increases. The water absorption behaviour of the composites increased as a function of the duration of exposure, while the biodegradable properties showed a steady decrease in the weights of the composites as a function of time of exposure in the soil and filler content. The results have shown that the incorporation of CPP and ESP into the polymer matrix provides significantly enhanced water absorption and bio-degradable properties with retarded mechanical properties.