Use of pyrolysed oil shale as filler in high density polyethylene

Pyrolysed oil shale was used as filler in mixtures with high density polyet hylene. The effects of this addition were compared with the ones obtained w ith calcium carbonate. The compounds were prepared on a Haake equipped with mixing head Rheomix at 190 degreesC with concentration of pyrolysed oil sh ale up to 20%. Tension curves showed the possibility of substituting calciu m carbonate with the pyrolysed oil shale without damaging the mechanical pr operties of the compounds. The behaviour of these materials was evaluated taking into account the conc entration and the size of the particles used. It was observed that particle s with the smaller diameters showed best effects on the mechanical properti es of the final material. The mechanical properties, differential scanning calorimetry, and scanning electron microscopy results are discussed. (C) 20 01 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.