Investigating the Effect of Photo-Oxidative Degradation on the Ageing Resistance of the Car Mudflaps Manufactured with Post-Production High-Density Polyethylene Wastes

The paper presents the results of the ageing resistance of automotive mudflaps made of recycled polyethylene blends. The mudflaps were manufactured by a plastic sheet extrusion-calendaring process in Novotech Kostrzyn nad Odrą company. The changes of the mechanical properties in the tensile test and impact toughness test as well as in Shore hardness due to the accelerated aging process were characterized, taking into account the aging sensitivity coefficient (KI), and changes in the structure within the wavenumber range 4000-400 cm-1, taking into account the CI coefficient. The results showed a higher melting point and crystallinity for the recycled HDPE blends during photo-oxidative degradation. Moreover, the results presented decreased tensile strength and ductility, due to macromolecular chain scission caused by oxidation. It was found that the blends of HDPE based on recycled materials are more sensitive to the aging process than virgin HDPE. Finally, it can be concluded that the sensitivity to ageing blends increases with the increase of recycled HDPE content in the HDPE matrix.