a SciTechnol journal Research Article Vasu et al., J Polym Sci Appl 2017, 1:2 International Publisher of Science, Technology and Medicine All articles published in Journal of Polymer Science & Applications are the property of SciTechnol, and is protected by copyright laws. Copyright © 2017, SciTechnol, All Rights Reserved. Journal of Polymer Science & Applications The Improvement in Mechanical Properties of Coconut Shell Powder as Filter in HDPE Composites Aradhyula Thirumala Vasu 1 , Chetan Reddy, Srinadh Danaboyina 2 , Gopala Krishna Manchala 2 and Murthy Chavali 3 * Abstract Composites have been prepared using the coconut shell powder and high density polyethylene (HDPE) as the components. Coconut shell powder was mixed with HDPE via compounding of coconut shell powder and HDPE of HDPE and Coconut shell powder. The resultant materials were cast in three outlines and dried which resulted in composites. Their mechanical properties have been studied in detail and compared with the conventional composite made from the coconut shell powder used as reinforcement and high density polyethylene (HDPE) which was used as a matrix. The resulting material can be used in the applications of Aerospace and Automobile etc. Keywords Coconut shell powder; Polyethylene matrix composite; Mechanical properties *Corresponding author: Murthy Chavali, Divisions of Chemistry, Department of Sciences and Humanities, Vignan’s Foundation for Science, Technology and Research University (Vignan’s University), Vadlamudi, Guntur 522 213, Andhra Pradesh, India, Tel: +91 96428 78182; E-mail: chavalim@gmail.com Received: March 13, 2017 Accepted: April 14, 2017 Published: April 20, 2017 change drastically over high-density polyethylene to low density polyethylene. In general, the degree of branching in polyethylene determines its mechanical properties. HDPE is more crystalline than LDPE because it contains fewer branches. Unlike LDPE, a composite material which consists of coconut shell powder with diferent hardeners like coir fber reinforced polyester composites, polymer matrix composites, Phenol Formaldehyde Epoxy Resin, and Polyester [10-16]. In this paper, the composites are tested by bending, impact and tensile tests. Materials and Methods Materials required for this composite are coconut shell powder and high-density polyethylene. Te cleaned coconut shell was dried in open air; the pulverizing machine is used to make coconut shell into powder. High-density polyethylene, the only type of Low-Density polyethylene was produced at extremely high pressures. Tis high- pressure polymerization created polyethylene with many branches; these branches are created due to intermolecular and intermolecular chain transfer during polymerization. Te mechanism involved in the polymerization of low-density polyethylene is free radical polymerization. Te uses of low-density polyethylene are limited due to the high number of branches. Because of the extreme pressure needed to create low-density polyethylene and its limited uses, Karl Ziegler tried in creating polyethylene at atmospheric pressure [17]. Coconut Shell powder and HDPE was used in ratios of, 10-90%, 20-80%, 30-70%, and 40-60% respectively. Te various methods used in testing of composite materials are a tensile test, bending test and impact test. Te samples were prepared in diferent concentrations and in diferent shapes by the process of injection molding and casting technique for testing. Tese prepared samples were subjected to various mechanical tests like a tensile test, bending test and impact test. Experimental Method Te powder was collected from dried coconut shell by breaking the shells into pieces and grinding them. Te collected powder was sieved to diferent mesh sizes. Te coconut shell powder is incorporated with high-density polyethylene by using injection molding and casting technique with the respective percentages of coconut shell powder. Te ambient temperature of the high-density polyethylene is 200°C. Te mixture was prepared into the required shape and size by using the molds of injection molding. All the samples will be tested through above mentioned tests, hence, a total of 15 pieces are required, the dimensions and shapes of those pieces are in Figure 1. Te samples are tested for the mechanical properties; the samples which are compared with the standard, the one which matches with the standard it is acceptable for application in various mechanical felds (Tables 1-3). Results and Discussions Te experimental curves for tensile strength from Universal testing machine of 10% CSP (coconut shell powder) flled, 20% CSP flled, 30% CSP flled and 40% CSP flled composites are shown in Figures 2-5 respectively. Introduction Composite materials were developed as a class of materials capable of advanced aerospace, electronics, structural, automotive and wear applications. Tis composite material used in our study was coconut shell powder and HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene). Te advantage of the composite materials is their tailored mechanism which includes low density, high specifc strength [1-4]. Te top fve coconut producing countries are Indonesia, Philippines, India, Brazil and Sri Lanka. Te places in India include Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Orissa, and Assam. A coconut usually contains coconut water and core which is consumed and the remaining is lef a shell as waste. Tese shells contain Natural fbers which are eco-friendly, biodegradables that are eco-friendly, cheap and renewable to the environment. Chemical composition of coconut shell powder consists of Lignin (29.4%), Pentosans (27.7%), Cellulose (26.6%), Moisture (8%), Solvent Extracts (4.2%), Uronic Anhydrides (3.5%) and Ash (0.6%) [5-9]. HDPE works like a hardener; the only type of polyethylene produced was LDPE. A German scientist (Karl Ziegler) made the greatest contribution in producing high-density polyethylene. Te mechanical properties