Compatibilized recycled polymers/clay as a matrix for rice husk composites: mechanical and physical properties

Abstract

The growing green technological trend towards waste utilization and cost reduction has gained the industrial attention in the use of agricultural waste as a value added filler material. This research addresses a simple fabrication of greenly bionanocomposites made from polyethylene (rHDPE), recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET), nanoclay and rice husk (RH), with and without ethylene-glycidyl methacrylate (E-GMA) or maleic anhydride polyethylene (MAPE) compatibilizer, using a two-step twin-screw extrusion followed by hot/cold pressing. Results showed the positive effect in elongation at break and impact strength upon the reinforcement of nanoclay with the aids of compatibilizer as compared to the neat polyolefin blend. By adding RH, the flexural properties were found to increase remarkably up to 3.6 times than the blend matrix. It was found that the addition of compatibilizer, especially E-GMA, lowered the water absorption and thickness swelling of bionanocomposites. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed the improved compatibility of nanoclay with polymer blend upon the addition of compatibilizer. It can be concluded that the synergy effects of hybrid reinforcements of rice husk fibre and nanoclay in the recycled polymer blend have achieved while maintaining environmental appeal.