INTRODUCTION

Composite material is a material composed of two or more distinct phases (matrix phase and
dispersed phase) and having bulk properties significantly different form those of any of the
constituents.
The primary phase, having a continuous character, is called matrix. Matrix is usually more
ductile and less hard phase. It holds the dispersed phase and shares a load with it.
The second phase (or phases) is embedded in the matrix in a discontinuous form. This secondary
phase is called dispersed phase. Dispersed phase is usually stronger than the matrix, therefore it
is sometimes called reinforcing phase.
Many of common materials (metal alloys, doped Ceramics and Polymers mixed with additives)
also have a small amount of dispersed phases in their structures, however they are not considered
as composite materials since their properties are similar to those of their base constituents
(physical properties of steel are similar to those of pure iron).
There are two classification systems of composite materials. One of them is based on the matrix
material (metal, ceramic, polymer) and the second is based on the material structure:
Classification of composites I (based on matrix material)
Metal Matrix Composites (MMC)
Metal Matrix Composites are composed of a metallic matrix (aluminum, magnesium, iron,
cobalt, copper) and a dispersed ceramic (oxides, carbides) or metallic (lead, tungsten,
molybdenum) phase.
Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMC)
Ceramic Matrix Composites are composed of a ceramic matrix and embedded fibers of other
ceramic material (dispersed phase).
Polymer Matrix Composites (PMC)
Polymer Matrix Composites are composed of a matrix from thermoset (Unsaturated Polyester
(UP), Epoxiy (EP)) or thermoplastic (Polycarbonate (PC), Polyvinylchloride, Nylon,
Polysterene) and embedded glass, carbon, steel or Kevlar fibers (dispersed phase).
Classification of composite materials II (based on reinforcing material structure)
Particulate Composites
Particulate Composites consist of a matrix reinforced by a dispersed phase in form of particles.
1. Composites with random orientation of particles.
2. Composites with preferred orientation of particles. Dispersed phase of these materials
consists of two-dimensional flat platelets (flakes), laid parallel to each other.
Fibrous Composites
1. Short-fiber reinforced composites. Short-fiber reinforced composites consist of a matrix
reinforced by a dispersed phase in form of discontinuous fibers (length < 100*diameter).
1. Composites with random orientation of fibers.
2. Composites with preferred orientation of fibers.
2. Long-fiber reinforced composites. Long-fiber reinforced composites consist of a matrix
reinforced by a dispersed phase in form of continuous fibers.
1. Unidirectional orientation of fibers.
2. Bidirectional orientation of fibers (woven).
Preparation of eggshell powder
In recent decades, growing environmental awareness has resulted in renewed interest in the use
of natural materials for different applications. Increasingly more stringent environmental policies
have forcedindustries such as the automotive, packaging and construction industries to search for
new materials that can substitute traditional composite materials consisting of a plastic matrix
and inorganic reinforcement.
The incorporation of mineral fillers into thermoplastics has been widely practiced in industry to
extend them and to enhance certain properties. Fillers often increase the performanceofpolymeric
products. The degree of improvement on the judicious choice of filler origin, particle size and
shape, the fraction of filler, and the surface treatment promoting interaction between the polymer
matrix and filler [3]. The addition of fillers to polymers is a fast and cheap method to modify the
properties of the base materials. For this reason,particulate filled polymers have been, and are, a
subject of increasing interest in both industry and research. In thisway, strength, stiffness,
electrical and thermal conductivity, hardness and dimensional stability, among other properties
can be tailored to the required values. The modification of the interfacial and interphase
properties of polymer composites is mainly carried out in order to achieve a certain degree of
compatibilization in the system.

The eggshells of chicken eggs were collected, washed, dried and ground to a powder using a mill
and the particle size of eggshell powder was 100 m. The eggshell powder was dried in a
vacuum oven at 140C until a constant weight was observed.

EXPERIMENTAL:
Materials:
T he material used in the study was HDPE (density =0.96 gm /cm3) supplied by the state
company of petrochemical industries (SCPI), Basra Iraq. The egg shell powder was obtained
from a local market. The samples used in this investigation were prepared by compression
molding method [7].Sample preparation: First, raw material eggshells were subjected to
cleaning, dried and ground to a powder using the blender. A sieve was used to obtain average
grain sizes of (75,125 m). The egg shell powder was dried in an oven to eliminate
contaminants and odour.