Mechanical and Tribological Performance of Recycled Polyethylene Composite Reinforced With Waste Basalt Fiber for Non-Load-Bearing Construction Components

Abstract

The valorisation of plastic waste and industrial mineral by-products is central to a circular economy in the construction sector. This paper investigates the mechanical and tribological performance of a recycled polyethylene (rPE) composite reinforced with chopped waste basalt fiber (BF) for use in non-load-bearing building components. Composites containing 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 wt% of short basalt fiber were produced by twin-screw extrusion followed by compression moulding, with a maleated polyethylene coupling agent to improve interfacial adhesion. The specimens were characterised by density measurement, tensile and flexural testing, notched impact testing, Shore D hardness and dry sliding pin-on-disc wear testing, and the microstructure was examined by scanning electron microscopy. The results show that fiber addition increased density, stiffness, strength and hardness up to a fiber content of 15 wt%, beyond which fibre agglomeration and interfacial defects caused a partial reversal. Relative to the neat recycled polyethylene, the 15 wt% composite exhibited increases of approximately 37% in tensile strength and 135% in tensile modulus, together with a 27% reduction in the coefficient of friction and a 59% reduction in the specific wear rate at a 30 N applied load. The wear rate increased with applied load in a broadly linear manner. The findings demonstrate that waste basalt fiber is an effective low-cost reinforcement for recycled polyethylene, and that the resulting composite is suitable for a range of non-load-bearing building applications including partition panels, decorative cladding, flooring and roofing components.