Use of recycled milled-paper in HDPE matrix composites

The traditional paper recycling process has problems related to the disposal of sludge and waste, the use of incinerators and water treatment. Because of that, an interesting alternative is using paper as filler in recycled thermoplastics matrix composite. In this way, re-use of paper is possible, and consequently the reduction of the amount of polymer with equal volume. The paper has to be subjected by micronization for this application. The micronization process adopted is based on system that uses simultaneously the impact and friction action. The production process of the composite is realized by the traditional injection moulding. The resulting composite is subjected by a morphological and mechanical characterization: from SEM analysis of the fracture surface was clear the absence of fiber-matrix interface, in spite of this, however, from tensile tests there is a constant elastic modulus and in some cases growing respect to the matrix devoid of fibres.