Copper slag as a potential waste filler for polyethylene-based composites manufacturing

The present study aimed to analyze the application of waste material from copper production– slag (ŻŻL) as filler for composites based on high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Copper was introduced in amounts 1–20 wt%, and its influence appearance (color analysis), chemical structure (Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy), microstructure (optical microscopy), well static (tensile tests) dynamic (dynamical mechanical analysis (DMA)) properties were investigated. Proper dispersion implicated that incorporation up 5 wt% caused only slight, 5% drop tensile strength, with simultaneous 16% rise Young’s modulus. Further increase loading resulted higher values porosity adhesion factor, determined DMA results, which led deterioration performance. Moreover, spectroscopic PE-ŻŻL indicated analyzed might be applied a coloring agent, may engineered by adjustment loading.
 Keywords: polyethylene, slag, properties, structure, composite, particle reinforced composite