EFFECT OF MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE LOADING AND TMPTA CROSSLINKING ON THE PROPERTIES OF LOW-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE COMPOSITES

Muazzah Amir; Sung Ting Sam; Muhammad Azizi Azizan; Nik Noriman Zulkepli; Wai Kian Tan

Muazzah Amir Faculty of Chemical Engineering & Technology, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, 02600 Arau, Perlis, Malaysia.
Sung Ting Sam Dr.
Muhammad Azizi Azizan Faculty of Civil Engineering & Technology, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Kompleks Pusat Pengajian Jejawi 3, 02600 Arau, Perlis, Malaysia.
Nik Noriman Zulkepli Faculty of Mechanical Engineering & Technology, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Kampus Tetap Pauh Putra, 02600 Arau, Perlis, Malaysia.
Wai Kian Tan Institute of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Toyohashi University of Technology, Toyohashi 441-8580, Aichi, Japan.

Keywords: low-density polyethylene, microcrystalline cellulose, crosslinking, microwave-assisted curing, polymer composites

Abstract

Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is commonly used in packaging and industrial applications; however, it shows limited stiffness and poor interfacial compatibility with natural fillers. This study explores the integration of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) sourced from coconut fibre and the use of microwave-assisted crosslinking with 3 wt.% trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA) to improve the mechanical and structural characteristics of LDPE composites. MCC was incorporated at 0–8 wt.%, and the composites underwent curing for 5 and 15 minutes. Mechanical, morphological, and structural analyses were performed through tensile testing, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD), with each test repeated three times to ensure statistical reliability. The findings indicated that the composite with 6 wt.% MCC cured for 15 minutes demonstrated the highest tensile strength and elongation at break, due to efficient stress transfer and enhanced matrix–filler adhesion. SEM confirmed a uniform dispersion at this loading, whereas 8 wt.% MCC resulted in fiber agglomeration. The XRD results showed that MCC enhanced crystallinity, while the crosslinking induced by TMPTA resulted in a slight reduction due to restricted chain mobility. The combined effect of MCC reinforcement and controlled microwave-assisted crosslinking resulted in LDPE composites that exhibit enhanced mechanical integrity and structural stability. The optimal formulation for high-performance LDPE-based materials was established at 6 wt.% MCC and 3 wt.% TMPTA with a curing time of 15 minutes.