INVESTIGATING THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF POLYETHYLENE (C2H4)N FOR ENGINEERING APPLICATIONS
Abstract
This project focuses on investigating the mechanical properties of polyethylene for engineering
applications. The mechanical properties of polyethylene investigated are; tensile strength,
impact resistance and hardness. The tensile strength here refers to the maximum stress the
polyethylene material can endure before it fractures. Impact resistance measures the ability of
the polyethylene material to withstand forceful impact without deforming permanently and
hardness is the ability of the material to resist indentation. Various mechanical tests suitable for
polyethylene are employed. The tests conducted are; tensile test, izod impact resistance test and
shore D hardness test. The results of this research work proves that when polyethylene is further
processed with epoxy resin, catalyst (zieger-Natta) and accelerator (dicumyl peroxide) it can
withstand high amounts of pulling and stretching forces, posses’ high resistance to indentation,
deformation and sudden impact loading thereby making it suitable for certain engineering
applications in automobile industries, piping and irrigation systems, and packaging in
manufacturing industries.
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