Development and mechanical properties of HDPE/PA6 blends: Polymer-blend geocells

Geocells are three-dimensional expandable panels composed of polymers such as polyolefin polymers. Currently, geocells are being extensively used in various geotechnical engineering applications; however, its applications are limited because of the sizeable long-term deformation under constant loading and poor tensile strength. Owing to the rapid growth rate of geocells, it has become necessary to develop a polymer material with excellent creep resistance and tensile strength. To this end, a polymer-blend geocell (PBG) is developed in this study using a twin-screw extruder with high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyamide 6, and compatibilizer. The polymer formula is determined by the tear fracture surface and scanning electron microscopy. The tensile properties of the blends with different formulas are studied in terms of yield strength, tensile strength, and elongation at break. Finally, three types of PBG and HDPE geocells are selected to study the long-term creep behavior using accelerated creep tests. The analysis results of raw creep data, master creep curve, and isochronous creep curves indicated that the PBG had a better creep resistance than the HDPE geocells.