The effect of interfacial adhesion on the creep behaviour of LDPE–Al–Fique composite materials

The dynamic mechanical response and performance to short-term creep of composites made from mats of fique and low-density polyethylene–aluminium (LDPE–Al) obtained from recycled long-life Tetra Pak packages were studied. Chemical treatments such as alkalinisation with NaOH and silanization and impregnation treatments with polyethylene, were applied to improve the compatibility of the fibre–matrix and their effects on the creep response and mechanical properties of LDPE–Al–Fique, were investigated. The interfacial adhesion was deduced from the properties measured and confirmed by observation of the fractured surface of the composite. A relationship was observed between the creep mechanical response of LDPE–Al–Fique with respect to both the untreated fibres and the fibres treated with NaOH. Additionally, the four parameters of the Burger’s model were calculated from the creep curves. A very good agreement between the experimental data and the theoretical curves was obtained in the fluency region.