We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Effect of Rice Husk and Wood Flour on the Structural, Mechanical, and Fire-Retardant Characteristics of Recycled High-Density Polyethylene
AI summary Read the abstract
This is not a microplastics study; it tests how adding rice husk and wood flour to recycled high-density polyethylene affects the material's mechanical, thermal, and fire-retardant properties, finding that rice husk in particular improved both fire resistance and stiffness — potentially useful for reducing virgin plastic demand.
Given the rising consumption of plastic products, it is becoming imperative to prioritize the recycling of plastic items as a solution to reducing plastic waste and environmental pollution. In this context, this research focuses on assessing the impact of incorporating rice husk and wood flour into recycled high-density polyethylene (rec-HDPE) to analyze its mechanical properties, flammability, and thermal stability. The combined rec-HDPE content of wood flour and rice husk varied between 0% and 20%. The rec-HDPE content of maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene (MAPE) was fixed at 3%. Mechanical characteristics such as flexural, tensile, and impact strengths were assessed. Cone calorimetry (CC) tests, limited oxygen index (LOI) tests, and horizontal and vertical burning tests were performed to determine the flammability or fire retardancy of these composites. On the other hand, to characterize the thermal characteristics of these composites, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was used. To further characterize the fluctuation in these characteristics, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) studies were carried out. The mechanical characteristics were found to be increased in response to adding rice husk or wood flour. An 8% increase in tensile strength and a 20% increase in elastic modulus enhancement were recorded for a 20% rice husk-added composite. SEM revealed the reason for the variation in tensile properties, based on the extent of agglomeration and the extent of uniform distribution of fillers in rec-HDPE. Following these lines, the 20% rice husk-added composite also showed a maximum increase of around 6% in its flexural strength and a maximum increase of 50% in its flexural modulus. A decrease in impact strength was recorded for rice husk and wood flour-reinforced composites, compared with unreinforced rec-HDPE. Hybrid composites displayed a lack of mechanical strength due to changes in their nature. FTIR tests were performed for a much more elaborate analysis to confirm these results. Twenty percent of rice husk-added rec-HDPE displayed the best thermal properties that were tested, based on TGA and derivative thermogravimetric (DTG) analysis. This 20% composite also displayed the best fire-retardancy characteristics according to UL 94 tests, cone calorimetry tests, and limited oxygen index tests, due to the barrier created by the silica protective layer. These tests demonstrated that the incorporation of both fillers-rice husk and wood flour-effectively enhanced the thermal, mechanical, and fire-retardant attributes of recycled HDPE.
More Papers Like This
Mechanical, Thermal, and Fire Retardant Properties of Rice Husk Biochar Reinforced Recycled High-Density Polyethylene Composite Material
AI summary Read the abstract
Rice husk biochar added to recycled HDPE composite materials at 30% content increased tensile and flexural strength by 24% and 19% respectively, while the 40% biochar composite showed the best thermal stability and fire retardancy in horizontal and vertical burning tests.
A Study of Plant-Filled Polymer Composites Based on Highly Plasticized Polyvinyl Chloride
AI summary Read the abstract
Not relevant to microplastics — this study characterizes the optical, thermal, and mechanical properties of PVC-based composites filled with plant materials (spruce flour, birch flour, rice husk), exploring eco-friendly construction materials without addressing microplastic pollution.
Material Development and Properties of Medium-Density Board from Low and High-Density Polyethylene
AI summary Read the abstract
Not directly relevant to microplastic pollution research. This engineering study creates medium-density boards from waste polyethylene plastics and tests their mechanical properties for use in furniture and construction—a materials recycling study rather than a pollution or health impacts study.
Mechanical performance of concrete using rice husk ash–plastic artificial aggregates with varying particle sizes
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers made artificial concrete aggregates by mixing PET plastic waste with rice husk ash of different particle sizes, then tested the concrete's strength. Using finer ash particles improved strength, but the plastic-based concrete was still weaker than standard concrete, though lighter, suggesting possible use in lightweight, non-structural applications.
The Effect of Clay Tile Particle Addition on the Flame Retardancy and Impact Toughness of Ramie Fiber-Reinforced Polypropylene Composites
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that adding crushed clay roof tile particles to a plant-fiber/plastic composite makes it much more resistant to catching fire—but the tradeoff is the material becomes more brittle and breaks more easily on impact. This matters because it points toward greener, plant-based alternatives to standard plastic products (like furniture or building materials) that could reduce plastic waste, though manufacturers still need to balance fire safety with durability before these materials are ready for widespread use.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.