Investigation of structural and mechanical properties of BioCaCO3-LDPE composites

The three different Mollusk shells, Pecten maximus, Crepidula fornicata and Crassostrea gigas, were studied and compared with synthetic and commercial powders. All samples were analysed by X-ray diffraction, Quantitative phase analysis, and quantitative line broadening (microstructure) analysis using the Combined Analysis method. LDPE-CaCO3 composites were prepared in a twin screw extruder in the composition range of 0–10.8 filler content. Ultimate Mechanical properties of dog-bone type injection molded tensile specimens (ISO-527-2-5A) were measured. Results are showing that the biogenic calcium carbonate is less efficient in improving polyethylene stiffness than the synthetic ones, independently of its crystalline form, to use stearic acid coating allows an improvement of the matrix stiffening. The yield strength is unchanged whatever the kind of filler used.