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Eco-friendly green composites reinforced with recycled polyethylene for engineering applications

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Abstract

Polyethylene (PE) and cement are industrial products that promote environmental pollution. These products when exposed on the landfill have tremendous effects on the lives of humanity and other living creatures, including animals. Therefore, this research presents the results of experimental and theoretical modeling of green composites (without the inclusion of cement) reinforced with recycled polyethylene waste for applications in the Mechanical and Civil Engineering industry. The composites are produced using different weight fractions of laterite and molten PE mixed homogeneously to produce unique green composites with excellent mechanical properties. The green composite with 40 wt.% laterites and 60 wt.% PE exhibited the highest compressive strength, flexural strength and fracture toughness of 25 MPa, 7.3 MPa and \(0.6 MPa\sqrt{m}\), respectively. Additionally, the green composite recorded maximum yield stress of \(\sim 2 MP\). The maximum yield stress of the green composites falls under the minimum range of yield stress for traditional concrete structures. The SEM images reveal evidence of bonding and ligament bridging in the green composites reinforced with 40 wt.% laterites and 60 wt.% PE. The probability distribution plots show that the polyethylene in the green composites follows the Weibull distribution with low Anderson Darling Statics and p-values greater than significance level of 5%.

Graphical abstract

Highlights

  • Composites are produced with laterite and molten PE without the inclusion of cement to produce unique green composites with excellent mechanical properties.

  • The green composite exhibited excellent compressive strength, flexural strength and fracture toughness of 25 MPa, 7.3 MPa and 0.6 MPa√m, respectively.

  • A maximum yield stress of ~ 2 MPa was recorded for the green composite.

  • The SEM images reveal evidence of bonding and ligament bridging.

  • The green composite is well characterized by the Weibull distribution.

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The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article [and/or] its supplementary materials.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Tamale Technical University for its financial support.

Funding

Tamale Technical University provided financial support for strength analysis and materials characterization.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tamale Technical University, Tamale, Ghana

    Salifu Tahiru Azeko, Jacob Kofi Mensah, Philip Yamba & Anthony Akayeti

  2. Department of Materials Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

    Emmanuel Kwesi Arthur

  3. Department of Orthotics and Prosthetics, Unversity of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana

    Napoleon Abiwu

  4. Department of Chemistry, Cuttington University, Suakoko, Liberia

    Moses Kingsford Flomo

  5. Department of Estates, Tamale Technical University, Tamale, Ghana

    Joseph Asiamah Boadu

  6. Deparment of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University for Development Studies, Nyankpala, Ghana

    Enoch Asuako Larson

  7. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Poornima College of Engineering, Jaipur, India

    Raj Kumar Satankar

  8. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana

    Ebenezer Annan

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  1. Salifu Tahiru Azeko
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by STA, JKM, EKA, NA, MKF, JAB, PY, EAL, AA, EA, and RKS. The first draft of the manuscript was written by STA and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Salifu Tahiru Azeko.

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Azeko, S.T., Mensah, J.K., Arthur, E.K. et al. Eco-friendly green composites reinforced with recycled polyethylene for engineering applications. J Mater Cycles Waste Manag 25, 2431–2441 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-023-01701-z

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