Soil Buried Linear Low Density Polyethylene/Polyvinyl Alcohol/Kenaf Filler (Lldpe/Pvoh/Knf) Composites: Assessment of Tensile Properties and Morphological Feature

The effect of soil burial duration on the tensile properties and morphological feature of linear low density polyethylene/polyvinyl alcohol/kenaf filler (LLDPE/PVOH/KNF) composites was investigated. A Thermo Haake internal mixer was used to fabricate LLDPE/PVOH/KNF composites with KNF content of 0, 10 and 40 parts per hundred resin (phr), respectively. The tensile properties (tensile strength, tensile modulus and elongation at break) and morphological feature of the composites were evaluated before and after 3 months and 6 months of soil burial period. The results revealed that the tensile properties decrease with prolonged period of soil burial. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) micrographs showed presence of cracks and pores on composite samples after soil burial exposure. (paper)