On the mechanical and physical properties of recycled polymer matrix composites reinforced with cooper powder

The influence of cooper powder as reinforcing phase on the main mechanical and physical properties of recycled polyethylene matrix composites has been investigated. The obtained elastic modulus increases up to the upper adopted reinforcing level (similar to 10 [vol. %]), while elongation and fracture energy decrease. The UTS values remain quite constant within the reinforcing content interval. Electrical resistivity proved to depend, to a great extent, on the reinforcing particle distribution inside the polymer matrix. It has a sudden drop when a continuous electrical conductive path is formed at a critical volume fraction of metal particles. At a lower content, instead, it slowly decreases as reinforcing powder content increases. Both the mechanical properties and values for electrical resistivity are similar to those published for polymers obtained directly from monomers.