Water Resistance and Tensile Strength of High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Composites

In this paper, three type of natural-fibre reinforced polyethylene were produced. They are the coconut coir reinforced polyethylene (RPCC), kenaf reinforced polyethylene (RPKC) and bamboo reinforced polyethylene (RPBC). Water absorption test, thickness swelling test and tensile test of the different natural fibre composites were carried-out. The mass of HDPE and natural fibre were based on percentage of filler loading. Each board types were produced with two fibre ratios which are at fourty percent and thirty percent. The preparation of the test sample is according to ASTM D1037 and ASTM D638. The tensile modulus of elasticity, tensile stress, water absorption and thickness swelling of kenaf and bamboo reinforced polyethylene composites were found to increase with increasing fibre weight fraction. Kenaf and bamboo composites showed compatible result for tensile stress and tensile modulus of elasticity while coconut coir appears to be otherwise. However, coconut coir fibre composites displayed comparable results to kenaf and bamboo for both water and thickness swelling. There were significant differences in both tensile properties and the percentage of the water absorption among composites.