MECHANICAL AND THERMAL PROPERTIES OF THE POLYPROPYLENE AND RICE HUSK HYBRID BIO-COMPOSITE

The main objective of this study is to establish the structure-properties relationship of the polypropylene-rice husk composites. The method used in this work were the experimental study of mechanical behavior, physical, thermal and microstructural characterization applied to two groups of specimens fabricated by extrusion followed by injection molding, one group using 3% by weight compatibilizer and the other without this agent, specimens were manufactured by varying the concentration of the 5-25% reinforcement and particle size between 250-500 μm. The mechanical properties were performed according to ASTM standards. Statistical analyses of the results obtained were carried out. The results show that the compatibilizer don't visibly improve the resistance to impact, density, hardness and modulus of elasticity to flexion. The increase in the reinforcement concentration exerts a positive effect on flexural strength, tensile modulus, hardness and density, and a negative effect on tensile strength and impact. Scanning electron microscopy shows a weak interface between reinforcement-matrix. From all these tests, it was determined that the structure-properties relationship don´t visible improve even with the presence of the compatibilizer.