Mechanical and Spectroscopic Properties of Rice Husk Reinforced Polypropylene Composites: Effect of Sodium Hydroxide

摘要

Rice husk reinforced polypropylene-based composites were prepared by conventional compression molding. Composites contained 5-20% (by weight) of rice husk as the reinforcing agent. Then mechanical and spectroscopic properties of the composites were evaluated. Rice husk was also treated with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution (1% by weight) to investigate the effect of NaOH on the mechanical properties of the fabricated composites. Loading of rice husk revealed that mechanical properties of polypropylene based composites significantly improved. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed the existence of hemicelluloses and lignin in the neat composite. Interfacial properties were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).