Effects of Fibre Loading and Interfacial Modification on Physical Properties of Rice Husk/PE Composites

Abstract

In this study, the physical properties of thermoplastic composites manufactured from linear medium density polyethylene (LMDPE), rice husk (RH) and maleic anhydride polyethylene (MAPE) were evaluated. Composites were manufactured with RH loadings of 15 wt%, 30 wt% and 50 wt% with 1 wt% of MAPE to investigate the effect of RH loading on the physical properties (water absorption and thickness swelling) of the composites. The results show that the water absorption and the corresponding thickness swelling increased with an increase in RH loading. Further manufacturing was carried out with 50 wt% of RH and 1wt%, 3.5 wt% and 6 wt% of MAPE to evaluate the effects of interfacial modification on the physical properties of the composites. The results show that the composites with 3.5 wt% of MAPE had least water absorption and the corresponding thickness swelling, whereas the composites having 1 wt% of MAPE had maximum water absorption and the thickness swelling. It can be concluded from these experiments that fibre loading as well as interfacial modification play a significant role in determining the physical properties of the composites.