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Incorporation of rick husk ash (RHA) fillers into polypropylene affected some of the thermal properties of polypropylene composites. Addition of the black rice husk ash (BRHA) filler raised the thermal degradation temperature while maintaining the oxidative stability. The thermal degradation temperature of the white rice husk ash (WRHA) composites was found to be independent of filler loading but the oxidative stability deteriorated with increasing filler content. DSC studies indicated that both white and black RHA fillers act as weak nucleation agents and increase the degree of crystallinity of polypropylene by a small margin. Addition of the RHA fillers reduced the linear thermal expansion coefficient of the composites. Dynamic mechanical studies showed that the RHA composites with higher filler content have higher storage modulus. Tan δ curves of the composites indicated that WRHA filler increased the damping property while the BRHA filler had an opposite effect.

ABSTRACT:The viability of using oil palm trunk wood flour (OPWF), a by-product of the oil palm industry, as a filler in polypropylene (PP) was studied. The OPWF was compounded into polypropylene using a Brabender thermoplastics mixer and a twin screw compounder. Torque of PP/OPWF composite was compared to that of neat polypropylene. The result showed that the mixing torque of polypropylene increases by adding OPWF filler into it. Test specimens of the PP/OPWF composite at 30% filter content were prepared by injection moulding, their mechanical properties evaluated and compared to a commercial PP /talc composite. The tensil properties, flexual modulus, impact strength, and melt flow index of the PP/OPWF composite were decreased only by a small margin when compared to those of PP/talc. The PP/OPWF composite, on the other hand, has better heat deflection temperature value than PP/talc. The study shows that OPWF has a good potential to be used as an alternative filter for polypropylene. The OPWF used in this study was not treated with any coupling agent.