Effect of Aging in Acidic Condition on Mechanical Properties of Copper (II) Oxide Added LDPE Composites

In this work, the effect of aging duration time and copper (II) oxide loading level on the physico-mechanical properties of copper (II) oxide added LDPE composites have been investigated. The addition of copper (II) oxide particles in LDPE matrix has significantly decreased the tensile strength of LDPE composites. The occurrence of copper (II) oxide particles in LDPE matrix could reduce the matrix continuities of copper (II) oxide added LDPE composites by the agglomeration of copper (II) oxide particles. This could further cause the applied straining stress unable to be effectively transferred throughout the whole polymer matrix. The increasing of aging time duration up to 8 days has slightly reduced the tensile strength of all copper (II) oxide added LDPE composites. The increasing of copper (II) oxide loading level has significantly decreased the elongation at break of LDPE composites. This is due to poor interfacial adhesion between copper (II) oxide particles and LDPE matrix could further restrict the mobility of LDPE chains under straining stress and thus decrease the elongation at break.