Blending Recycled High-Density Polyethylene HDPE (rHDPE) with Virgin (vHDPE) as an Effective Approach to Improve the Mechanical Properties

The mechanical properties of virgin/recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE) blends over the complete concentration range was thoroughly investigated in this work. In particular, a focus made on long-term via fatigue. Two different mixing methods, namely powder (dry blending) and extrusion (melt blending), were used to determine effect processing conditions tensile fatigue behavior after compression molding. It found that both (modulus, ultimate strength) performances improved with increasing vHDPE content. Based obtained data, correlation between composition is reported. Moreover, it observed content led slower crack propagation rate, probably due less defects (contamination) blends. Finally, negligible difference (fatigue resistance) approaches observed, but samples produced showed viscous dissipation (heat generation) as increased, leading lower surface temperature rise which can be an advantage for specific applications.