Compounding and molding of polyethylene composites reinforced with keratin feather fiber

Polyethylene-based composites are prepared using keratin feather fiber obtained from chicken feathers. Keratin fibers are mixed into high-density polyethylene (HDPE) at 20 wt% using a Brabender mixing head. This is the compounding step and the variables studied are compounding time, temperature, speed and state of fiber dispersion. Following compounding, the composites are compression molded at various times and temperatures and this is the molding step. The effects of compounding and molding are studied using tensile testing and scanning electron microscopy. It is found that keratin feather fiber provides a stiffness increase to HDPE but lowers tensile breaking stress. The fibers are thermally stable for long periods of time up to 200 degreesC, but the best composite properties are found at processing temperatures of 205 degreesC, where the fibers are only stable for a few minutes. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.