Physical and mechanical properties of flat pressed HDPE composite filled with a mixture of bagasse/rice husk

摘要

Rice husk and bagasse are two by-product from agriculture and the sugar cane industry that have been produced in huge quantities every year. Flat pressing technology can be considered an altemativeto produce large dimension wood plastic panels. This study was undertaken to determine the physical and mechanical properties of wood plastic composites, which were made under laboratory conditions by hot pressing using high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and some agriculture wastes (bagasse/rice husk) as filler. Four levels of mixed flour, 30, 40, 50, and 60 %, based on the composition by weight, we remixed with the HDPE powder without using coupling agent. A conventional flat-press was used to manufacture testing specimens in dimension 35 X 35 X 1 cm at 1 gr/cm~3 density. The modulus of elasticity of the panels increased with the increase in lignocel-lulosic fiber content. Modulus of rapture for all panels increased as the HDPE content increased. Formulations with increasing mixed flour were found to havea higher swelling thickness and water absorption after 2 and 24 h. As expected, by the increasing mixed flour content, water resistance of the panels was negatively influenced.