Rice Husk/High Density Polyethylene Bio-Composite: Effect of Rice Husk Filler Size and Composition on Injection Molding Processability with Respect to Impact Property

TLDR: In this article, the compounding of rice husk and high density polyethylene (HDPE) was undertaken on a Sino PSM 30 co-rotating twin screw extruder.

Abstract: The compounding of rice husk and high density polyethylene (HDPE) was undertaken on a Sino PSM 30 co-rotating twin screw extruder. Four sizes of rice husk were studied at various compositions. The size ranged from 500 μm and below (coded A, B, C and D) while the content of rice husk in the composite varies from 30, 40 and 50 percent of weight. A fixed amount of Ultra-Plast TP10 as a compatibilizer and Ultra-Plast TP 01 as lubricant, were added into the bio-composite compound. The injection molding process ability of the bio-composite was studied through flow behavior on melt flow indexer and analyzed on JSW N100 B11 Injection Molding. Size A which has the largest particle is the most appropriate size as the bio-composite filler based on thermal stability test. The melt flow rate of rice husk/HDPE (RHPE) decreases with the increased in rice husk compositions and apparent viscosity also increases with composition for all filler size. Melt flow rate above 4g/10 min was found to be the lower limit for injection molding process. The smaller the filler size, the lower is the impact strength and the increased in the filler composition lowers the impact strength. A bio-composite at 30 weight percent rice husk size A (RH30PEA) was found to have optimum rheological properties with respect to impact strength.