Effect of Nanosilica and Nanoclay on the Mechanical, Physical, and Morphological Properties of Recycled Linear Low Density Polyethylene/Rice Husk Composites

Abstract

The principal objective of this study was to assess the capability of waste rice husk fibers as reinforcement for recycled plastics. The fabrication of Wood-plastic composites (WPCs) based on rice husk (RH) fibers and recycled linear low polyethylene in the presence of maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene (3 phc) were made by melt blending method. The impact of nanosilica and nanocaly, at different concentrations (2, 4, and 6 phc) on morphological, physical–mechanical and thermal properties of the prepared WPCs were studied to distinguish the most efficient nanoparticle. The highest improvement of mechanical properties was achieved at 6phc nanosilica loading and 4phc nanoclay. At a high level of nanoclay loading (6phc), increased population of clay pellets leads to agglomeration, and stress transfer gets blocked. Izod impact strength was decreased by the incorporation of different nanoparticles in contrast with the hardness. The addition of different nanoparticles decreased the water absorption and thickness swelling of composites. The interaction of the rice husk fibers with the polymer matrix as well as the impact of nanosilica and nanoclay in the improvement of the adhesion was shown by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In addition, the thermal stability showed slightly improved by the addition of nanoparticles, but there are no perceptible changes in the values of melting temperature by increasing the nanosilica and nanoclay content. The degree of crystallinity (Xc) of the composites decreased with the incorporation of RH fibers and increased with the addition of nanoparticles. The finding demonstrated that WPCs treated by nanosilica had the most elevated properties than nanoclay.