Influence of different surface treatment techniques on properties of rice husk incorporated polymer composites

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>Rice husk natural fiber remains a highly abundant, eco-friendly and low-cost reinforcement filler for plastic composites fabrication. Hampered by its low aspect ratio and incompatibility with non-polar polymers, its utilization in reinforcing polymer composites often results in decreased composite properties such as decreased tensile strength, impact strength, percentage elongation, and flexural strength. However, stiffness increases. Various surface treatment techniques such as mercerization, compatibilization, acetylation, electron beam irradiation and plasma surface modification have been employed to improve its compatibility with non-polar matrix polymers. This article critically reviews the influence of these surface modification techniques on the resulting composite properties. Based on the analysis of reinforcing efficiencies of these techniques, their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, the authors, therefore, project plasma treatment as the most efficient and eco-friendly technique with prospects for high technological application of rice husk plastic composites.</jats:p>

Mechanical properties of rice husk and rice husk ash filled maleated polymers compatibilized polypropylene composites

“…Polypropylene copolymer of SM240 grade (Lotte Chemicals, Titan, Malaysia) of melt flow index 25 g/10 min (230 C/2.16 kg) and density 0.9 g/cm 3 was supplied as pellets and used as matrix. The reinforcing filler raw rice husk was supplied by Padi Bernas Nasional Berhad, Kuala Lumpur, and RHA obtained from it.…”

“…The reinforcing filler raw rice husk was supplied by Padi Bernas Nasional Berhad, Kuala Lumpur, and RHA obtained from it. MAPP of Orevac CA100 grade with melt flow index 10 g/10 min (190 C/0.325 kg) and density 0.9 g/cm 3 ; and E-AE-MA of Lotader 4700 grade with melt flow index 7 g/10 min (190 C/2.16 kg) and density 0.94 g/cm 3 were obtained from Arkema, France.…”

“…The production of raw rice husk (RH) has been estimated to the tune of 167.1 million tonnes annually which offers a rich availability of raw material for industrial application and scientific research. 3 There are two forms in which rice husk serves as a reinforcing filler in polymer composite namely, RH and rice husk ash (RHA). RHA results from calcination of the RH fiber at varying temperatures depending on desired properties of the ash.…”

“…12 Compatibilization however, has seen higher acceptance and application compared to other treatment techniques. 3 A study by Huner showed that MAPP compatibilizer improved the mechanical properties of RH filled PP composite by 42% in tensile strength, 13% in tensile modulus and 78% in impact strength compared to the uncompatibilized composite. 20 Reprocessed PP/RHA composite up to six generations was found to retain its tensile properties due to the inclusion of MAPP compatibilizer which enhanced good dispersion of the particles within the matrix, enabling efficient matrix-filler stress transfer.…”

Comparison of mechanical properties and thermal stability of graphene‐based materials and halloysite nanotubes reinforced maleated polymer compatibilized polypropylene nanocomposites

“…[34] The choice of MAPP as compatibilizer is based on its observed good mechanical property enhancement in PP based composite systems due to its PP base polymer compatibility with PP matrix, enabling interdiffusion with the matrix. [35,36] GNP, GO, and HNTs were characterized by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Fabricated PP based nanocomposites were characterized by using tensile test (ASTM D638), 3-point flexural test (ASTM D790), notched impact test (ASTM D256), TGA, and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM).…”