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Preparation and Characterization of Polymer Biocomposites Based on Linear Low Density Polyethylene and Rice Husks

Ecological concern has recently resulted in a natural sources which are rich in cellulose, cheap and provide good prospective as reinforcements fillers in polymer matrix composites as recyclability and environmental safety. Rice husk is a cellulose-based fibrous material and a waste product of the rice processing industry. Biocomposites made from linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) and rice husks (RH) in different content (10, 20, 30, 40, 50 wt. %) were prepared by melt compounded in laboratory Brabender mixer. The LLDPE/RH biocomposites were characterized by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The effects of RH content on the thermal properties of the biocomposites have been discussed. The DSC results showed that the addition of the RH and increasing the RH content in biocomposites increased the crystallinity degree of the LLDPE/RH biocomposites at lower filler concentration of RH, i.e. 10 and 20 wt.% due to nucleating ability of RH . The results obtained by DMA analysis show a decrease of glass transition temperature (Tg) of LLDPE when it was blended with RH. In terms of thermal stability it has been found that the addition of RH decreased the thermal stability of the neat LLDPE.

Linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), rice husk (RH), biocomposites, thermal properties, thermal stability

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