Tensile and Flexural Behavior of Hemp Fiber Reinforced Virgin-recycled HDPE Matrix Composites

Hemp fibre reinforced polyethylene (fresh and recycled) composite is manufactured by injection moulding technique for varying fiber contents from 10% to 30%. Tensile and flexural tests are conducted on composite specimens in accordance to ASTM D638 and ASTM D790 standards respectively. The results obtained are compared with specimens made of 100% fresh HDPE and mixture of virgin and recycled HDPE (50% each). The tensile strength of hemp fiber composite decreases respectively by 0.53 MPa to 2.20 MPa with the increase in hemp content from 10% to 30% when compared with specimen made of 50% fresh and 50% recycled HDPE. The flexural strength of composite containing 10% and 30% hemp fiber are reduced respectively by 3.82 MPa and 4.99 MPa when compared with specimen made of 50% fresh and 50% recycled HDPE. Investigation of tensile fractured surface reveals that the fiber delamination, fiber tensile fracture and poor interfacial adhesion between hemp fiber and HDPE matrix are mainly responsible for poor tensile strength of the composite.