Effect of rice husk ash on mechanical properties of low density polyethylene

Abstract

Rice husk ash (RHA) obtained from rice husk by burning at different temperatures was used at 10%, 20% & 30% by weight as a filler in low density polyethylene(LDPE) and the mechanical properties were studied. RHA when burned cleaned rice husk at 420^ºC (RHA 420) & 520^ºC (RHA 520) were amorphous and at 900^ºC (RHA 900) was less crystalline. There was no significant change in overall mechanical properties when LDPE was filled with even up to 30 % of RHA 420, RHA 520 & RHA 900 fillers respectively indicating the good LDPE-RHA interaction due to Si-OH groups.