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The effect of rice husks and mTiO2 on the thermal properties of LLDPE/RH/mTiO2 biocomposites

Polyethylene (PE) is one of the simplest and well- known polymeric material with widely used. Linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) is a synthetic polymer most commonly used in food packaging or plastic bag production. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of the rice husks content and mTiO2 on the thermal properties of linear low densitiy polyethylene (LLDPE)/rice husks (RH)/mTiO2 biocomposite. Rice husk (RH) is one of the major agricultural residues produced as a byproduct during the rice milling process and it can be widely used due to its properties. The incorporation of RH into polymer matrices provides advantageous characteristics, such as biodegradability, light weight, toughness, and resistance to weathering. In addition to rice husks, rutile (mTiO2) was added, which is one of the most famous fillers due to its excellent properties such as stability and resistance to high temperatures. LLDPE/RH/mTiO2 biocomposites were prepared by mixing RH in content of 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 wt % of RH and 5 wt % of mTiO2 in the neat LLDPE in a Brabender mixer. By DSC techniques phase transitions, TGA technique the thermal stability while by DMA technique viscoelastic properties of the LLDPE/RH/mTiO2 biocomposites were obtained with the respect of RH content and addition of mTiO2. According to DSC results for LLDPE/RH/mTiO2 biocomposites changes in the melting (Tm) and crystallisation (Tc) temperature indicated that there was some degree of interaction between LLDPE, RH and mTiO2. The TGA results show that the LLDPE is more thermally stable with addition of mTiO2. The viscoelastic properties were improved with addition of mTiO2.

Linear low density polyethylene, rice husks, mTiO2, biocomposites, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, dynamic mechanical analysis, rutile

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