Modelling the Tensile Properties of HDPE Composite Materials with Poly (vinyl acetate) Coated Calcium Carbonate Filler

Abstract

Amorphous calcium carbonate particles with average diameter of 56 m have been coated with poly (vinyl acetate) to improve their adhesion to a thermoplastic polymer matrix such as high-density polyethylene. The resulting composite materials, obtained by compression moulding of the coated calcium carbonate filler and polyethylene matrix at 140 C present improved tensile strengths, in comparison with the reference material, obtained without poly (vinyl acetate) coating. The mechanical properties of the composite assembly have been modelled with Digimat-FE software, obtaining a satisfactory correlation between the experimental results and the simulated tensile strength