Development of rare earth element and carbon fiber-based filler for polyethylene—Mechanical and thermal performance

In the present study, three fillers produced with carbon fiber powder (CFP) and rare earth elements were developed for low-density polyethylene production. These fillers included CFP with a grain size of less than 400 microns and over 90% pure lanthanum and cerium oxides. Polyethylene was employed to ensure the thermoplasticity and homogeneity of the fillers. The fillers were mixed with the matrix material separately, first mechanically and then homogenously in the extruder, then the test bars were produced with an injection machine. In the mechanical tests, it was determined that the tensile strength of the test bars improved by ~20% and the elastic region increased due to the increasing amount of filler. Similarly, an improvement of about 40% in bending stress was realized. In addition, as the fluidity of the mixtures has improved, it has been possible to produce at lower temperatures and save energy in the production. Thermogravimetric analysis was conducted to determine the melting/crystallization temperatures and material losses in the compounds. The scanning electron microscope analysis showed that the fillers were irregularly distributed on the surface in parallel and perpendicular directions. In addition, x-ray diffraction and energy dispersive spectroscopy analyses were performed on the surfaces.