article · Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites
High-density polyethylene composites reinforced with walnut shell powder were developed using melt blending and compression moulding. A compatibiliser, maleic anhydride-grafted polyethylene, was added to enhance interfacial bonding between the hydrophilic agricultural filler and the hydrophobic polymer matrix. Adding walnut shell powder increased the overall stiffness of the composites. Incorporating the compatibiliser significantly improved tensile strength and filler dispersion by strengthening matrix-filler interactions. Soil burial experiments demonstrated that composites absorbed moisture progressively and underwent early-stage deterioration primarily within the natural filler component, whereas the polyethylene matrix stayed comparatively stable. Chemical and surface analyses confirmed structural and morphological shifts after soil exposure. These outcomes indicate that agricultural waste fillers can serve as sustainable reinforcements, offering a viable alternative to conventional mineral fillers for specific composite formulations.
Utilising agricultural waste such as walnut shells offers a practical route to reduce reliance on non-renewable mineral fillers in plastic manufacturing. By demonstrating improved mechanical properties through compatibilisation alongside early biodegradability traits, this research highlights how bio-based waste can be repurposed into functional, lower-impact composite materials for non-structural uses.
The material is targeted at wood-plastic composites and lightweight non-structural applications. Potential end users include manufacturers of composite decking, interior panels, and consumer goods seeking bio-based filler options. The work is at an applied laboratory stage, having demonstrated successful melt blending, compression moulding, and initial environmental testing, but it requires further industrial processing validation and long-term durability assessments before commercial adoption.
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This study investigates the preparation, mechanical performance, and environmental degradation behavior of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) composites reinforced with walnut shell powder (WSP). Composites containing different WSP loadings were fabricated by melt blending and compression molding, while maleic anhydride-grafted polyethylene (PE-g-MA) was used as a compatibilizer to improve interfacial adhesion between the hydrophobic HDPE matrix and the hydrophilic lignocellulosic filler. The effects of filler loading and compatibilization on melt flow behavior, tensile properties, soil-burial response, FTIR, and surface morphology were systematically evaluated. The results showed that WSP incorporation increased composite stiffness, whereas PE-g-MA significantly improved tensile strength and filler dispersion through enhanced matrix–filler interactions. Soil burial tests revealed progressive moisture absorption and early-stage environmentally induced deterioration associated mainly with the lignocellulosic phase. FTIR and optical microscopy analyses confirmed chemical and morphological changes after soil exposure, while the HDPE matrix remained relatively stable during the investigated period. These findings demonstrate the potential of walnut shell powder as a sustainable reinforcement for HDPE-based wood–plastic composites and lightweight non-structural applications. Compatibilized composites exhibited improved interfacial adhesion and more homogeneous particle distribution, indicating that agricultural waste fillers can contribute to sustainable polymer composite development with reduced dependence on conventional mineral reinforcements.
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DOI: 10.1177/07316844261481981
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