Abstract
A composite based on gelatin fiber-reinforced linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) matrix was fabricated using compression molding. Two layers of gelatin fibers were sandwiched with three layers of LLDPE sheets. Gelatin fiber was prepared from 20% gelatin-based aqueous solution by extrusion method. Composites with varying percentages of gelatin fiber (1-10%) were made. The mechanical properties such as tensile strength (TS), bending strength (BS), elongation at break (Eb), tensile modulus (TM), bending modulus (BM,) and hardness were taken. TS, TM, Eb (%), TM, BM, and hardness of the composite (10% fiber) were found to be 1.67 MPa, 1.14 MPa, 96%, 25.8 MPa, 507.6 MPa, and 92 shore A, respectively. The density of the composite with 10% gelatin fiber was found to be 0.66 g/cm3, which was less than the density of gelatin (1.58 g/cm3) and LLDPE (0.905 g/cm3). The water uptake capacity of the composite with 10% gelatin fiber was found to be 16.65% after 60 min.
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