STUDY MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF THE USED POLYMER RICE HUSK ASH WAS ADDED AS AN ADDITIVE BY INJECTION MOLDING PROCESS

Abstract

Abstract

This study investigated mechanical properties using of rice husk ash (RHA) as the additive and recycled high density polyethylene (rHDPE) primary matrix.
In this research, rice husk ash of 300 and 800 µm at mix rates of 10 - 40% by weight as additive were added to used high density polyethylene (rHDPE), and it was mixed by a dry blending method, and then molded by an injection molding process. From the
results of the indicated that there was a tendency to decrease mechanical properties when more rice husk ash was added. However, it showed that the modulus of bending resistance tended to increase compared to the new HDPE resin, rHDPE resin, rHDPE
plastic composite and rice husk ash of 300 µm at all mix ratios and a plastic mixture of rHDPE and rice husk ash of 800 µm in size at 10% by weight of rice husk ash mixture ratio was 1277, 764.3, 688.5, 728, 1916, 1998 and 933.4 MPa, respectively. The modulus of tensile strength was 255.42, 160.5, 241.1, 234.66, 517.34, 924.96 and 242.6 MPa,
respectively.
         In conclusion, this study indicated that the addition of rice husk ash to rHDPE did not improve the mechanical properties in plastic injection molding but could increase the modulus with the addition of more rice husk ash. While the size of rice husk ash, as large as 800 µm, tends to make it more difficult to mold.