Mechanical Properties of LLDPE Composites Reinforced with Woven Horsehair Fabrics

This study aims to enhance the mechanical properties of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) based composites by utilizing fabrics woven from horse tail hair as reinforcement. The warp and weft thread comprised bundles containing 20 hairs each in fabric production. The warp density was kept constant while two different weft densities, 5 bundles/cm and 7 bundles/cm, were used. Plain and 2/1 twill were selected as the weave type. All fabrics, except for the reference sample, were coated with ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). The coating increased the tensile strength of the composite in the weft direction by 11.69% compared to untreated fabrics. As the fabric’s weft density increased, the tensile and flexural strength of the composites in the weft direction improved. A slight decrease in tensile strength was observed in the composites with the 2/1 twill weaving structure compared to the plain weaving, while an increase in flexural strength was noted with the plain weaving structure.