A Study the Effect of UV Light on Pigmented and Unpigmented LDPE

Abstract

In the present work, specimens of polymeric composites were prepared from LDPEwith different wt% of TiO2 and Fe2O3 using a single screw extruder which operated at atemperature of (150-170) Co. Results obtained reveal that after the addition of 7% of TiO2 toLDPE, some of mechanical properties improved for example tensile strength increased from(18.50 )MPa to (28.12) MPa tensile at break increased from (14.96) MPa to (26.02) MPa,modulus of elasticity increased from (63) MPa to (193.98) MPa, hardness increased from(48 ) to(75),while impact strength decreased from (0.18 ) to (0.02). After the exposure toUV light all mechanical properties declined but pigment LDPE still has higher mechanicalproperties unpigmented LDPE. Empirical equations were reached which could be used tocalculate one of the mechanical properties in terms of exposure time, weight percent ofpigment content and other mechanical properties.