engleski

Preparation and characterization of rice husk filled low density polyethylene composites applicable in packaging

The use of synthetic polymers in packaging applications has been limited as a result of ecological problems. Using rice husk to produce eco-friendly and biodegradable food packaging materials is a partially solution to reduce the used of conventional nonbiodegradable materials made from petroleum. Rice husk (RH) are low cost, cellulosic-based materials and the chemical composition is the main factor that imparts a high possible application of this class of materials in biopolymer composites production. Biocomposites based on rice husk (RH) and low- density polyethylene (LDPE) were prepared by laboratory Brabender mixer . The influence of rice husk and high content of 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 wt % RH on the composite properties was studied in this work. Results confirmed that the incorporation of the RH into the LDPE and increase of the content of the RH slightly increased the crystallinity which means that RH act as a nucleating agent. The initial degradation temperature of the neat LDPE is shifted to lower temperature by addition of RH which means that the thermal stability of the LDPE decreased by the addition of RH. The tensile strength and elongation at breake decreases of LDPE were found to decrease by the addition of RH and with an increase in the RH content while the water vapor transmission rade increase. When the biocomposites were immersed in distilled water for 60 days duration. The higher RH contenr composite absorbed more water compared to the others. This is due to the presence of cellulose in the RH structure that tends to absorb moisture from the surrounding environment.

biocomposites, LDPE, rice husks , packaging polymer materials

nije evidentirano