Abstract
ABSTRACT The use of agricultural waste, such as rice husk (RH), for the production of cheap and eco-friendly polymer composites has emerged as a promising field of interest. The aim of this work was the preparation of highdensity polyethylene (HDPE)-based composites reinforced with rice husk and an organic pro-oxidant (EG15) for the production of seedlings tubes. Photodegradation and degradation tests in simulated soil were performed for 90 and 180 days in order to study the decomposition of these composites. The SEM and OM images suggest that degradation of the composites samples was more extensive than the pure HDPE samples, probably because the composites present intense light absorption in the UV range, facilitating the degradation process even before biodegradation begins. In addition, after introducing RH particles in the polymeric matrix, the mechanical tensile and flexural properties, experienced significant changes, suggesting that the RH particles were homogeneously dispersed throughout the polymer matrix. Finally, the results have demonstrated that HDPE, RH, and EG15 are attractive materials for the design of polymeric composites for the production of seedlings tubes with excellent mechanical properties, being also easily decomposed in the environment once discarded.
Highlights
The use of plastic materials in agriculture has intensified in recent decades due to their lightweight, low cost, easiness of installation and usage, cheap management, versatility for various applications, and good mechanical properties, as well as the increasing food demand in the world
After introducing rice husk (RH) particles in the polymeric matrix, the mechanical tensile and flexural properties, experienced significant changes, suggesting that the RH particles were homogeneously dispersed throughout the polymer matrix
Overall, the results have shown that RH, a waste from agriculture, can be used as reinforcing particles for highdensity polyethylene (HDPE) processing
Summary
The use of plastic materials in agriculture has intensified in recent decades due to their lightweight, low cost, easiness of installation and usage, cheap management, versatility for various applications, and good mechanical properties, as well as the increasing food demand in the world. There are commercially biodegradable seedlings tubes, they generally do not meet the target dynamics of forest seedling production, since they present low mechanical resistance, cracks, and deformations of the tube structure, making it difficult to handle during application and transport to the field In this context, a number of researchers have attempted to develop green materials based on biodegradable polymeric composites with a variety of lignocellulosic matrices, such as sisal fibers [6], bamboo fibers [7], recycled cellulose [8], coconut fibers [9], or wood powder [10], among others. The properties of polyethylene composites with lignocellulosic matrices have shown significant improvements, especially for mechanical tensile and flexural properties, making those composites useful for the various applications [1113].a polar compatibilizer, such as maleic anhydride, can be used in order to improve adhesion between the natural fiber and polymer matrix composites reinforced, from the formation of chemical bonds between the cellulose and matrix polymer, improving the mechanical properties [11]
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