Investigation of the effects of fibreglass content and treatment techniques on the properties of compound granules produced from recycled high-density polyethylene reinforced with short fibreglass via twin-screw extrusion

Abstract

Environmental pollution from plastic waste is an urgent global issue, prompting countries to seek solutions for reducing and recycling plastic. This study focuses on developing materials from recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE) by combining recycled plastic with glass fibres to create composite materials for civil construction applications. The research investigates factors including the mixing ratio of the main materials, the method of glass fibre treatment, and the compatibiliser mixing ratio to achieve desired properties suitable for construction applications. Experimental results show that a mixing ratio of 80/20 recycled/virgin HDPE combined with 15% glass fibres treated with acetone and 3% compatibiliser Fusabond E528 produces a material with a tensile strength of 15.59 MPa. The study confirms the potential of composite materials made from recycled HDPE and glass fibres in protecting the environment and conserving resources.