Summarizing
Evaluation of the Mechanical, Thermal and Rheological Properties of Recycled Polyolefins
Rice-Hull Composites
Introduction:
The increasing focus on using recycled solid waste has led to new methods in making composite
materials to reduce costs and promote sustainability. A large portion of this waste comes from
polyolefins like high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP), which are used in
many products. However, recycling these materials is difficult due to contamination from labels,
caps, and bags, and repeated reprocessing can lead to degradation. To improve their quality,
fillers like rice hulls, a low-cost and renewable resource, are used. Rice hulls are produced in
large amounts in rice-growing regions, such as California, and are often used for fuel or
composite materials due to their weather resistance, biodegradability, and stability. However,
challenges remain in ensuring good adhesion between the hydrophilic rice fibers and the
hydrophobic polyolefins. Techniques like maleated polymer binders (MAPP and MAPE) help
improve this adhesion while reducing pollution and costs. This study aims to explore the use of
rice hull fibers in composite materials, focusing on how the size of the rice hull particles affects
the rheological (flow) properties of the composites at different shear rates. The goal is to
optimize the mechanical and physical properties of these composites to replace wood plastic
composites (WPC). Understanding the flow and strength of these composites will help improve
their overall performance.
The research work used rice hulls to make sustainability-based recycled polyolefin composites.
The study will focus on the effect of the variation in size of rice hull particles on changing
properties of recycled polyolefin composites. The authors study the mechanical, thermal, and
flow properties of these materials. Of special interest to them is rHDPE and rPP, recycled high-
density polyethylene and recycled polypropylene, respectively. The ongoing objective of the
research is to find a substitute for wood plastic composites that will last long by using recycled
polyolefins mixed with rice hulls.
Materials:
Rice hulls: The principal supply is from TriState Outfitters in Moscow, ID, USA and sorted
to two sizes: less than 0.5 mm and less than 1 mm.
Recycled high-density polyethylene (rHDPE): Obtained from Moscow Recycling Center,
Moscow, ID, USA, and ground to <6 mm.
rPP: Supplied from Moscow Recycling Center, Moscow, ID, USA, and grounded into a size
smaller than 6 mm.
MAPE coupling agent: Commercially available from Polybond 3029, SI Group,
Schenectady, NY, USA.
Maleated polypropylene (MAPP): Commercial coupling agent material sourced from
AC950, Honeywell International Inc., Morris Plains, NJ, USA.
Methods:
Composite Fabrication: Rice hulls, polyolefins, and coupling agents are combined and
processed at different temperatures and feeding rates on a twin-screw machine (Leistritz
ZSE18, Somerville, NJ, USA). Ribbons produced from this process are pressed together
with heat to form composite sheets.
Particle Size Measurement: The size of the rice hull particles is determined through a
microscope that magnifies by 40 times, Olympus BX51 microscope, San Diego, CA, USA.
Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC): Melting and freezing points of polyolefins and
composites are evaluated using a Q200 DSC (TA instruments, New Castle, DE, USA).
Melt Flow Rate (MFR): The melt flow rate of the blends is determined using a CEAST
Modular Melt Flow Indexer (Model 7024.000, Charlotte, NC, USA) at 190°C.
Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA): Heating breakdown as well as stability of materials
are determined using a Perkin–Elmer TGA-7 device based at Shelton, CT, USA.
Thermomechanical Analysis (TMA): Determination of softening and melting
temperatures of polyolefins and composites by utilizing a PerkinElmer TMA-7 tool with
an office located in Shelton, CT, USA.
Tensile Testing The tensile properties including strength and stiffness of the polyolefins
and composites are determined with an Instron 5500R-1132 universal testing machine
(Norwood, MA, USA).
Dynamic Rotational Rheology: A Bohlin CVO 100 N rheometer from East Brunswick, NJ,
USA is used to determine how polyolefins and composites will behave under tension or
compression.
Capillary Rheology: The viscosity of flow of polyolefins and composites is measured on a
capillary rheometer (Instron Model 3213, Norwood, MA, USA).
Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR): The chemical composition of the rice
hulls and composites is determined using a Nicolet-iS5 spectrometer (Thermo-Scientific,
Madison, WI, USA).
Water Soak: The ability of polyolefins and composites to absorb water is tested by
soaking up to 100 days.
Analysis: The data from various tests are analyzed in Microsoft Office 2016, Excel, to
determine how the size of rice hull particles influences the properties of recycled
polyolefin composites.
Data Collection Process
The researchers conducted a series of experiments that provide data on the properties
of rice hulls, polyolefins, and composites. The size of the hulls was determined by
passing them through a microscope.
The heat properties of the materials were determined through DSC and TGA. Dynamic
rotational rheology and capillary rheology have been measured to analyze the flow
properties. Tensile testing was done to determine the mechanical properties. The water
absorption of the materials was found by dipping them in water. The information
obtained from such experiments can be studied to determine how the size of rice hull
particles affects the properties of the mixtures. The work gives useful information
regarding the use of rice hulls as an eco-friendly filler in recycled polyolefin composites.
Information obtained from all the testing and studies also helps us understand rice hull
composites and their suitability in various situations. The rice hulls can be used as good
fillers in recycled polyolefin composites. This is what helps in a more sustainable and
eco-friendly way of forming composite materials.
