Ecofriendly modification of both rice husk and recycled HDPE by coupling agent producing excellent wood plastic composite

Moubarak, D. I.; Reda, Laila M.; Mohamed, Lameas A.; Elrasasi, T.Y.

doi:10.21608/ejchem.2025.354057.11192

Ecofriendly modification of both rice husk and recycled HDPE by coupling agent producing excellent wood plastic composite

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Delta Technological University, Faculty of Technological Industry and Energy, Department of Mechatronics, Quesna, Menoufia, Egypt

² Benha University, Faculty of Engineering (Benha), Department of Basic Science, Benha, Qalyubia, Egypt

³ Housing and Building National Research center, Sanitary and environmental institute, Giza, Egypt

⁴ Benha University, Faculty of Science, Department of Physics, Benha, Qalyubia, Egypt

10.21608/ejchem.2025.354057.11192

Abstract

Excellent wood plastic composite produced by reaction of rice husk, recycled high-density polyethylene (RH/HDPE) and polyethylene grafted maleic anhydride (PEGMA). The impact of varying concentrations of polyethylene grafted maleic anhydride (PEGMA) as a coupling agent in rice husk and recycled high-density polyethylene composites (RH/HDPE) on their mechanical and physical properties was examined. Analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed improved homogeneity of RH fibers within the HDPE matrix due to the presence of PEGMA. FT-IR findings indicated the formation of a new chemical bond at 1734 cm-1 between RH fibers and HDPE chains. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) demonstrated enhanced thermal stability with higher PEGMA concentrations. The results revealed that the modulus of elasticity, maximum stress, maximum strain, and Shore D hardness of the samples increased with increasing PEGMA concentration, reaching a peak and then decreasing after reaching 2% wt. Abrasion resistance improved with higher PEGMA concentrations. Furthermore, swelling parameters in distilled water exhibited significant enhancement with increasing PEGMA concentration. The study will help in efficient utilizing rice husk and recycled HDPE as an alternate resource for the industrial manufacture of particleboards.

Keywords