[01] Pauline U. Ofora, Department of Pure & Industrial Chemistry, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria. [02] Rosemary U. Arinze, Department of Pure & Industrial Chemistry, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria. [03] Chukwuebuka T. Onyema, Department of Pure & Industrial Chemistry, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria. [04] Justina U. Omaka, Department of Pure & Industrial Chemistry, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria. [05] Johnson I. Ekwueme, Department of Pure & Industrial Chemistry, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria. [06] Joy N. Nwokoye, Department of Chemistry, Federal College of Education Technical, Umunze, Anambra State, Nigeria.

Mechanical and end-use properties of linear low density polyethylene filled with dioscorea dumetorum (bitter yam) starch of particle size 100 µm at varying percentages as the function of filler contents were investigated. The polymer composite was fabricated by mixing LLDPE with 0 to 10% of dioscorea dumetorum (bitter yam) starch using injection moulding machine to obtain a material with enhanced and desired properties. The experimental test on mechanical properties such as tensile strength, elongation at break, hardness flexural and compressive strength carried out on the polymer composite produced showed an increase in the tensile strength, hardness, flexural and compressive strengths with reduction in elongation at break. The results showed that the filler had positive impacts on the mechanical properties as the filler volume increased. The optical microscopy seemed to show an improvement on the dispersion of the filler in the composite matrix as the filler volume fraction increases.

Dioscorea Dumetorum Starch, LLDPE, Mechanical Properties, Optical Microscopy

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