PERLITE-REINFORCED COMPOSITES BASED ON POLYETHYLENE WASTE

Abstract

In this study, the chemical structure and functional groups of composite materials based on polyethylene waste were studied. According to the results of FTIR analysis, it was found that the intensity of the peak at a certain wave number increased with an increase in the amount of perlite, which indicates that the perlite was evenly distributed in the matrix. The mechanical properties of composites are closely related to the degree of perlite distribution. A moderate amount of perlite increases strength, but if it is too much, it is poorly dispersed and agglomerated, which leads to a decrease in mechanical properties. The addition of perlite also improves the thermal insulation properties of composites. When the temperature increases, the hardness of the materials decreases, but the perlite particles restrict movement within the matrix and strengthen it. This makes the composites stronger and more stable.