Samah IKHLEF’s research while affiliated with University Ferhat Abbas of Setif and other places

In this study, the use of silane-crosslinking high density polyethylene/Spartium Junceum flour composites has been investigated. The silane grafting and composite production were carried out simultaneously in a one-step process using a mixing chamber of a Plastograph. Extraction in p-xylene revealed an increase in gel content with crosslinking. Therefore, storage in a high humidity sauna generated a higher degree of crosslinking in the composites than storage at room temperature. The thermal stability of the composite is greatly improved by crosslinking reaction, but it isn’t affected by the vinyltrimethoxysilane crosslinker concentration. Differential scanning calorimetry measurements of the composites showed a lower crystallinity in the crosslinked samples as compared to the uncrosslinked ones

The effects of Spartium junceum (SJ) flour content, treatment time, and temperature on the mechanical and rheological properties of low density polyethylene/Spartium junceum flour (LDPE/SJ) composites were studied. SJ flour was treated with NaOH (5% wt) for 24, 48, and 72 h at 25°C and 40°C. FTIR results showed that there is a partial removal of lignin and hemicelluloses after treatment which improved the interfacial adhesion matrix/SJ flour. Also, the alkaline treatment improved notably the tensile strength and Young's modulus and increased slightly the elongation at break of LDPE/SJ composites compared to those with untreated flour.