Failure mode characterization in maize hull filled polyethylene composites by acoustic emission

Failure processes due to tensile loading of polyethylene (PE) composites associated with maize hull as the filling material in different contents (10. 20, 30 wt%) was examined with the help of acoustic emission (AE) methods. Three separable failure modes can de determined based on the changing amplitudes of acoustic signals emitted during the tensile tests of injection molded specimens. The exact limit values of these modes were determined with one piece of maize hull embedded in PE. The presence of failure modes in composites was proven with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All fights reserved.