Effect of weathering on the properties of recycled high density polyethylene based nonmetallic printed circuit boards waste composite

Abstract

The weathering performances of nonmetallic printed circuit boards (PCB) - filled recycled high - density polyethylene (rHDPE) was investigated in this study. The compression molded rHDPE/PCB composite was exposed to both natural and accelerated weathering attacks. The durability of rHDPE/PCB composites was compared to neat unfilled rHDPE and virgin HDPE (vHDPE). When the exposure time increased, the color of rHDPE faded faster than vHDPE. The surface of composites with 3 0 and 50 wt% nonmetallic PCB flaked off after being exposed to both weathering conditions. Prolonged weathering exposure also caused loss of impact strength of all the samples with and without nonmetallic PCB fille r. In general, composites with 3 0 and 50 wt% nonmetallic PCB is more resistible to weathering attacks as compared to unfilled rHDPE.