Utilization of waste high density polyethylene (wHDPE) and buffing dust for boot-last production

Waste management has become a major problem in modern society in terms of their quantity and variety. The search for innovative solutions for the management of solid wastes increase in everyday of human technology leading to the value addition through the utilization of these wastes for the manufacturing of composites. Therefore, this quest for a cleaner environment necessitated the utilization of the high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and buffing dust (BD) wastes in the manufacturing of boot-last. In order to remove impurities and increase adhesion, the collagen fibres were treated with ammonium hydroxide, tetraoxomanganate (VII) solutions and benzoyl chloride. The compounding of the composites was done at a varying weight percent fraction of the reinforcements as thus: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 wt% and subsequently, were characterised for physico-mechanical properties. The impact strength indicated that, 10.00% wt, Untreated Buffing Dust reinforced waste high density composite marked the highest impact strength of 2.7 J/mm2, higher than 2.4 J/mm2 of the control and as well the chemical treated fibres. Due to exclusive physical/mechanical properties achieved compared to control standard, it could be established that, these wastes can be utilized in the production of boot-last.