Technology Research And Performance Characterization On Rice Stalks Fiber/PE Composites

The development and application of wood/plastic composites (WPC) have been increasing dramatically in the recently years because of their sustainable and environmentally friendly properties. And the development and industrialization of WPCs with agricultural waste as raw material has opened up a new application areas for the rich agricultural resources. Moreover, the use of WPCs from agri-based resources can reduce the environmental impacts caused by burning agricultural residues and disposing plastic wastes, reduce the amount of forest harvesting, protect of forest resources,increase the employment opportunities, raise farmers'income, and promote the economical development. High strength composite materials are available with low-cost natural plant fiber material and plastic composite to expand the applications of the material. Therefore, the launching of this new composite material, can also alleviate the pressure of the global energy crisis, help to achieve the coordinated development of man and nature, of great significance for the development of composite materials science.Based on this, the study used rice stalks fiber as enhance fiber, polyethylene as matrix and rice stalks fiber/PE composites were prepared. First exploratory experiment was done to determine the process technology for making rice stalks fiber/PE composites. In order to determine the best rice straw fibers and polyethylene ratio, the best fiber grain, and maleic anhydride coupling agent, titanate coupling agent, silane coupling agents on mechanical properties of composite materials, a series of tests were conducted. The best ratio of rice husk powder and polyethylene, the best fiber tablets and the addition of other groups were determined, according to the mechanical properties test made on the specimens with different component ratios. And the microscopic characteristics of the composites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and infrared spectroscopy test.The results showed that:hot pressing process parameters,the amount of rice straw fiber, maleic anhydride coupling agent, titanate coupling agent, silane coupling agent and fiber particles purpose size all had a certain effect on the mechanical properties of composite materials. The main conclusions are as follows:(1) The pressing temperature, time and pressure have a certain influence on the mechanical properties of rice stalks fiber/PE composites, the best hot pressing process: pressing temperature140℃, pressing time,5min, pressure2Mpa.(2) With the increasing mass fraction of rice straw fiber, the bending strength of rice stalks fiber/PE composites decreased, the overall modulus of elasticity showed an increasing trend.(3) Particle size of rice straw powder must be moderate, the mechanical properties of composites prepared by80mesh ice straw fiber is better.(4) Maleic anhydride, titanate, silane coupling agents have improved he mechanical properties of composite materials In varying degrees, the addition of coupling agent from about5%is better. Coupling effect:maleic anhydride>silane> titanate.(5) In the IR spectra, the disappearance of Polyethylene characteristics the peak1472.5cm-1and rice straw fiber characteristics the peak1624.4cm-1verified the coupling agent and rice straw powder occurred a chemical reaction from the micro.(6) The electron microscope image showed:with increasing mass fraction of rice straw fiber, its combination with polyethylene geted worse;80mesh rice straw fiber was appropriate, its interface phase with polyethylene displayed uniform, continuous; after added coupling agent, the interface between the rice straw fibers and polyethylene was blurred, the matrix phase continuity, and composites phase added maleic anhydride and silane coupling agent was more ambiguous than added a titanate coupling agent.