This work is concerned with the hypothesis that lightning impulses can lead to accelerated ageing of extruded polymeric cables. The behaviour of an insulation material when suffering lightning impulses is different from that for DC or power frequency over-voltages. Shaped HDPE material samples have been manufactured using a mould tool. The samples then may be electrically aged using one of the ...

Apple growers face new challenges to produce organic apples and now many cover orchards with high-density polyethylene (HDPE) nets to exclude insects, rather than spraying insecticides. However, rainwater- associated wetness favours the development of apple scabs, Venturia inaequalis, whose lesions accumulate on the leaves and fruit causing unsightly spots. Treating the nets with a superhydroph...

Thermal behaviors of wheat straw flour (WF) filled thermoplastic compositeswere measured applying the thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanningcalorimetry. Morphology and mechanical properties were also studied using scanningelectron microscope and universal testing machine, respectively. Presence of WF inthermoplastic matrix reduced the degradation temperature of the composites. One...

The thermal and photooxidative behaviour of polyethylenes of different manufacturing histories (linear low, metallocene and high density) have been investigated by FTIR spectroscopy and the data related to the chemiluminescence (CL) and thermal analysis of the polymers. The CL intensity and activation energies for thermal decomposition were found to be dependent on the rates of oxidation of the...

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on virgin polystyrene (PS) and PS marine debris led us to examine PS as a source and sink for PAHs in the marine environment. At two locations in San Diego Bay, we measured sorption of PAHs to PS pellets, sampling at 0, 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. We detected 25 PAHs using a new analytical method with comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography couple...

This research investigates the possibility of using high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic waste to improve properties asphalt concrete pavement. HDPE contents 1, 3, 5, and 7% by aggregate weight were used. waste=stabilized pavement (HDPE-ACP) was evaluated performance testing for stability, indirect tensile strength, resilient modulus (MR), fatigue (ITF). In addition, microstructure, age, CO...

Recycled high-density polyethylene (r-HDPE) was combined with waste carbon fiber by loading 6 k, 12 and 24 k tows through an extruder to create thermoplastic/carbon pellets volume fractions of 11.2%, 18.9%, 29.5%, respectively. Tensile flexural coupons were subsequently produced via injection molding novel 3D printing. The addition into r-HDPE in all cases showed increased mechanical properties...

Macrophages are the major cell type observed in the inflammatory membrane retrieved at implant revision surgery. In this study, mature human monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) were adapted to a previously established in vitro model to examine the influence of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) particulate (4-10 microm) on MDM viability. HDPE particles were suspended in soluble type I collagen, wh...

This life cycle design (LCD) project was a collaborative effort between the National Pollution Prevention Center at the University of Michigan, General Motors (GM), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The primary objective of this project was to apply life cycle design tools to guide the improvement of fuel tank systems. Two alternative fuel tank systems used in a 1996 GM vehicl...

This study examined the effect coextruding a clear HDPE cap layer onto HDPE/wood-flour composites has on the discoloration of coextruded composites exposed to accelerated UV tests. Chroma meter, XPS, SEM, and UV vis measurements accounted for the analysis of discoloration and degree of oxidation of both uncapped (control) and coextruded composites before and after UV exposures. Two separate dis...