Efect of maleated anhydride on mechanical properties of rice husk filler reinforced PLA Matrix Polymer Composite

Polylactic acid (PLA) formulated from corn starch has a bright potential to replace the non-renewable petroleum-based plastics. The combination of PLA and natural fbre has gained interest due to its unique performance, as reported in many researches and industries. Meanwhile, rice husk produced as the by-product of rice milling can be utilised, unless it is turned completely into waste. Therefore, in the present study, the rice husk powder (RHP) was used as a fller in the PLA, so to determine the infuence of the fller loading on the mechanical properties of the PLA composite. A coupling agent was selected for treatment from two options, i.e., maleic anhydride polypropylene (MAPP) and maleic anhydride polyethylene (MAPE), by applying the agents with various loading contents, such as 2, 4 and 6 wt%. The composite was fabricated by using the hot compression machine. Both the treated and untreated RHP–PLA composites were characterised via the tensile, fexural and impact strength tests. The increase in the RHP loading content led to the decrease in the tensile and fexural strengths. The applications of the coupling agents (MAPE and MAPP) did not improve the tensile and impact strengths, but the fexural strength was enhanced

Kompozyty polimerowe z napełniaczami roślinnymi: wpływ rodzaju i zawartości napełniaczy na stabilność wymiarową oraz palność kompozytów na osnowie poliolefin

Composites of polyethylene matrices and fillers consisting of finely ground pistachio shells and sunflower husks were manufactured. These materials were subjected to a series of tests for the purpose of examining their processing qualities, physical, mechanical and thermal characteristics, flammability and resistance to environmental factors, determining their feasibility and application paths. The relationship between the natural fiber composites' morphology and stability was described. Based on the obtained test results, the influence of the lignin content and secondary components in the fillers' structure on the thermal stability of the composites was confirmed. It was also proven that the porosity of the composites and the hemicellulose content in the filler influenced the composites' capacity to take up considerable amounts of water.W ramach pracy wytworzono kompozyty na osnowie polietylenu napełnione drobno mielonymi łupinami pistacji oraz łuskami słonecznika. Materiały te poddano serii badań mających na celu poznanie ich właściwości przetwórczych, fizycznych, mechanicznych i termicznych, palności oraz odporności na działanie czynników środowiskowych, warunkujących możliwości i kierunki ich zastosowania. Określono związek między morfologią a stabilnością badanych kompozytów polimerowych z napełniaczami roślinnymi (NFC, z ang. natural fibre composites). Zbadano wpływ zawartości ligniny i pozostałych składników napełniaczy na stabilność termiczną NFC. Dowiedziono również, że na zdolność NFC do pochłaniania znacznych ilości wody zasadniczy wpływ ma porowatość kompozytów oraz zawartość hemicelulozy w napełniaczu