Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
10
Polymeric Composites with Rice Hulls
for Extrusion
10.1 Concept
Manufacture of polymer composite resins by combining less polymer content and
reinforcing with natural fibre such as rice hulls, suitable for processing by extrusion.
Extrusions with polymer resins have been popular in the manufacture of many
products for the domestic, industrial and automotive markets. Until recently, most
extrusions were done with pure virgin materials, recycled material or a combination
of both. The prices of these petrochemical-based polymers have increasing steadily and
will keep on increasing and are not likely to come down at any stage. Manufacturers
have been on the lookout for possible alternatives and, some time ago, the arrival of
polymeric composite resins with wood fibre has had a definite impact on the industry.
The concept of fibre-reinforced polymers with mixtures of less polymer and more
fibres combined with suitable additives has had a tremendous impact on the extrusion
industry. The added advantages of these composite resins, such as light weight, higher
strength, better properties and fewer costs have made the extrusion industry flourish
using these composite resins in lieu of the traditional ones.
With research and development, manufacturers of composite resins can now take
them to new heights. These new technologies have resulted in polymeric composites
with rice hulls (PCRH) that are easy to process and also give better results than wood
plastic composites (WPC). These virtually new composite resins have opened a whole
new range of possibilities to include not only outdoor applications such as decking and
fencing, but excellent products for domestic, indoor, building construction, automotive,
industrial, aviation and furniture applications. This is a rapidly expanding market
estimated at >£2 billion and growing at 20% annually according to some reports,
especially because these products are considered to ideal substitutes for natural wood.
10.2 Production of Additives for Polymeric Composites with
Rice Hulls
To achieve good final products, the polymer composite mixture for extrusion or the
pelletised resins require a combination of suitable and compatible additives. These
composite mixtures can be compounded and extruded directly or some producers
 
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