RESPONSE SURFACE METHODOLOGY FOR THE OPTIMIZATION OF PREPARATION OF AVOCADO WOOD FILLER (AWF)- (HIGH DENSITY POLYETHYLENE ) HDPE COMPOSITES USING SURFACE MODIFICATION [ ]


Response surface methodology was used to optimize preparation of avocado wood filler(AWF)- high density polyethylene (HDPE) composites using surface modification. The effect of filler content on mechanical and water absorption properties was investigated. A one factor design was used to determine the optimum preparation condition of the composites to obtain the maximum tensile strength, elongation, tensile modulus, flexural strength, flexural modulus, hardness, and impact strength and water absorption. Regression models were developed for predicting the mechanical and water absorption properties based on one factor design. It was observed that regression model developed by the properties of the composites exhibits high coefficient of determination (R2) value. The optimum condition was 34.0022 wt% filler content. Under the optimum condition, the tensile strength, elongation, tensile modulus, flexural strength, flexural modulus, hardness, impact strength and water absorption were 29.918MPa, 3.72689%, 0.969755 GPa, 76.091MPa, 0.886187 GPa, 849.701Pa , 74.2808 KJ/m2 and 1.10511 % respectively.