Unveiling the Potential of Rice Straw Nanofiber-Reinforced HDPE for Biomedical Applications: Investigating Mechanical and Tribological Characteristics

Abstract

The efficient utilization of rice waste has the potential to significantly contribute to environmental sustainability by minimizing the waste impact on the environment. Through repurposing such waste, novel materials can be developed for various biomedical applications. This approach not only mitigates waste, but it also promotes the adoption of sustainable materials within the industry. In this research, rice-straw-derived nanofibers (RSNFs) were utilized as a reinforcement material for high-density polyethylene (HDPE). The rice-straw-derived nanofibers were incorporated at different concentrations (1, 2, 3, and 4 wt.%) into the HDPE. The composites were fabricated using twin-screw extrusion (to ensure homogenous distribution) and the injection-molding process (to crease the test samples). Then, the mechanical strengths and frictional performances of the bio-composites were assessed. Different characterization techniques were utilized to investigate the morphology of the RSNFs. Thermal analyses (TGA/DTG/DSC), the contact angle, and XRD were utilized to study the performances of the HDPE/RSNF composites. The study findings demonstrated that the addition of RSNFs as a reinforcement to the HDPE improved the hydrophilicity, strength, hardness, and wear resistance of the proposed bio-composites.

Casting light on the tribological properties of paraffin-based HDPE enriched with graphene nano-additives: an experimental investigation

“…The experimental outcomes illustrate that the calculated volume fraction of voids in the samples did not exceed 1%. This low percentage of voids suggests that the sample preparation process was appropriate and that voids were not significantly affecting the produced nano composite properties [32,51]. In line with these findings, the density of the sample containing HDPE NC2 additives was improved by up to 0.63% in comparison with the pure HDPE sample.…”

“…The integration of nanofibers derived from rice straw (RSNFs) into (HDPE) notably boosts its tensile strength by 30%. Simultaneously, it decreases the friction coefficient and wear rate by 17.5% and 50% respectively, when compared to unadulterated HDPE [32]. This highlights the potential of RSNFs as a distinctive filler for HDPE in biomaterials and offers valuable perspectives for upcoming studies.…”

Application of Taguchi Method and Response Surface Methodology on Machining Parameters of Al MMCs 6063-TiO2

“…The hard reinforcement can be (SiC), titanium oxide (TiO2) and aluminum oxide (Al2O3). Many polymeric matrix materials in different fields have been developed using Nano fillers as materials [7][8][9][10].Metal matrix materials come in many varieties, including those made of magnesium, aluminum, zinc, and copper. The hard reinforcement can be made of silicon carbide (SiC), titanium oxide (TiO2), or aluminum oxide (Al2O3).…”