Effect of the composition and concentration of fibrous wastes from linen yarn production on the physicomechanical properties of polyolefin composites

An analysis is made of the feasibility of using wastes from the production of linen yarm (scutch, spinning and carding refuse) to modify low-density polyethylene. The effect of the composition and concentration of wastes on the processing properties (melt index), physicomechanical indices (tensile strength, elastic modulus in bending), and water resistance of composites based on low-density polyethylene is studied. It is found that the melt index decreases with an increase in the content of filler and that even a composite with a high filler content (40–50% by weight) maintains values of 0.2–0.3 g/10 min. The elastic modulus in bending increases with an increase in the content of waste, regardless of the nature of the latter. Tensile strength increases slightly and depends on the choice of filler. This result, combined with the reducation in the scatter of values of elastic modulus with an increase in filler concentration, is an indicator of the relatively high degree of heterogeneity of the systems that were studied. The water resistance of the composites decreases with an increase in filleer content. To reduce the heterogeneity of the systems, mixing should be intensified and modifiers such as stearic acid and polyisocyanates should be added.