Journal of Science and Technology of Composites

Feasibility of using lead-acid battery separators as additives in polyethylene composites

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Material Science and Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran.

2 Institute for Nanoscience Nanotechnology, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Lead-acid batteries are a significant part of the global battery market; however, due to limited life of these batteries, we are faced with major environmental challenges associated with lead-acid battery waste. One of their main components is the separator. In addition to polyethylene and silica, the separator of these batteries also contains lead compounds. In this research, lead-acid battery separator and polyethylene were used as a matrix for preparing a composite that could improve polyethylene's mechanical properties due to the presence of silica. Samples of HDPE and LLDPE with 5% to 15% lead-acid battery separator were prepared and their mechanical and thermal properties were evaluated and compared. By analyzing the DSC results, the type of polyethylene in the battery separator, HDPE, was determined. By adding the battery separator to HDPE matrix, elastic modulus increased by about 22% and bending modulus by about 55%. For LLDPE elastic modulus increased by approximately 35%. The yield strength of the sample, with HDPE matrix containing 15% separator has increased from 25.1 MPa to 28 MPa, and for the sample, with LLDPE matrix containing 15% separator, yield strength increased from 11.9 MPa to 13.7 MPa. Hardness and modulus for 15% of the separator are at maximum value. Consequently, 15 wt.% separator is an optimal value to improve samples' mechanical properties.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References
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Journal of Science and Technology of Composites
Volume 9, Issue 4
March 2023
Pages 2075-2082
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