Development of high-density polyethylene /orange peels particulate bio-composite

Renewable resources such as natural fillers in the field of particles reinforced materials with their new range of applications represent an important basis in order to fulfill the ecological objective of creating environmental friendly materials. In views of enormous advantages a study on composites using orange peels particles as a reinforcing material and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) as a novel matrix has been made. The composite was first compounded to produce homogeneity of the particles in the matrix, and then it was compacted into flat plates. The composites were produced by varying the orange peels particles (uncarbonized and carbonized) from 5-25wt%. The properties of HDPE reinforced with orange peels have been studied using mechanical tests and microstructural analysis. The results shown that there was a fairly uniform distribution of the orange peels particles in the microstructure of HDPE composites which is the major factor responsible for the improvement in the mechanical properties. The obtained results of the developed composites have shown that the orange peels waste could be used as a biodegradable eco-friendly reinforcement.