Thermal Degradation Kinetics and Activation Energy of Recycled High-Density Polyethylene/Fly Ash Composites at Varying Filler Loadings

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Year : 2026 | Volume : 14 | 04 | Page :
By

Kiran Kumar M,

Madhukumar K,

Sasikumar N,

S B G Tilak Babu,

C. Senthamil Selvi,

Rekha Anantharaman,

  1. Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sir M Visvesvaraya Institute of Technology, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
  2. Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sir M Visvesvaraya Institute of Technology, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
  3. Assistant Professor, Department of Physics, Sir M Visvesvaraya Institute of Technology, New International Airport Road, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
  4. Assistant Professor, Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Aditya University, Surampalem, Tamil Nadu, India
  5. Associate Professor, Department of Physics, S.A Engineering college, Avadi, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
  6. Assistant Professor, Department of Microbial Research Lab, Obstetrics and Gyanecology, Saveetha Medical College, SIMATS, Thandalam, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

The ever-increasing plastic waste and coal fly ash are a serious environmental problem, which have to be addressed with effective recycling methods that transform plastic waste and coal fly ash into high value-added composites of good thermal properties. Although the use of recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE) is an area of interest, the effect of fly ash reinforcement on thermal degradation kinetics and activation energy is still poorly characterized, and a broad range of filler loadings to control durability of sustainable materials is not well understood. Recycled HDPE/fly ash composites were fabricated at different concentration of filler (0–25 wt%) using melt mixing and injection molding technique in the present work. The comprehensive characterization was conducted using thermogravimetric analysis under several heating rates, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy which allowed the detailed kinetic modeling by means of Flynn-Wall-Ozawa and Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose isoconversional methods. Results showed a systematic increase in thermal stability with the increase of fly ash content, and the onset degradation temperature increased by up to 28 °C, and the residual char content was up to 24.5% at 25 wt%. Activation energy showed a steady improvement from 155–260 kJ/mol from 155–260 kJ/mol for neat recycled HDPE to 172–290 kJ/mol at 25 wt% fly ash, which suggested a change in the degradation process which became more stable. The results are significant for tailoring the filler to the recycled polymer composite for optimal use in the field of sustainable construction and for high-temperature applications in the direction of the circular economy.

Keywords: Recycled HDPE/Fly Ash Composites, Thermal Degradation Kinetics, Activation Energy, Isoconversional Methods, Sustainable Polymer Composites, Circular Economy.

How to cite this article: Kiran Kumar M, Madhukumar K, Sasikumar N, S B G Tilak Babu, C. Senthamil Selvi, Rekha Anantharaman. Thermal Degradation Kinetics and Activation Energy of Recycled High-Density Polyethylene/Fly Ash Composites at Varying Filler Loadings. Journal of Polymer & Composites. 2026; 14(04):-.
How to cite this URL: Kiran Kumar M, Madhukumar K, Sasikumar N, S B G Tilak Babu, C. Senthamil Selvi, Rekha Anantharaman. Thermal Degradation Kinetics and Activation Energy of Recycled High-Density Polyethylene/Fly Ash Composites at Varying Filler Loadings. Journal of Polymer & Composites. 2026; 14(04):-. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/jopc/article=2026/view=254904

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Ahead of Print Subscription Original Research
Volume 14
04
Received 23/07/2026
Accepted 06/08/2026
Published 07/09/2026
Publication Time 46 Days

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