Mechanical and thermal characterization of as-received recycled polyethylene filled with rice husk and their relationship to the end use of these composites

ABSTRACT

Waste can be considered a crisis across the world, especially in the Global South where landfills are collapsing and vector-borne illnesses are increasing. Due to the increase in the amount of waste plastic in the environment, different uses of recycled plastics are being investigated. One such use is roofing tiles. This has been put in place in Sri Lanka through the Waste for Life organization. Here, recycled polyethylene is filled with rice husk particles. Due to the hydrophilic nature of the rice husk, the strength of the polyethylene composites decreased with increasing rice husk filler. Since the roofing tiles do not need to support a large load, the loss in strength should not be too detrimental. However, the creep behavior was improved with 10% and 20% filler. This is important in that the temperature on the roof can reach high temperatures.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Front view of composite sample: (a) 0% filler showing necking, (b) 5% filler, (c) 10% filler and (d) 20% filler showing both breakage of filler material and decohesion of filler material from PE matrix.

KEYWORDS:

• Creep
• recycled polyethylene
• rice husk
• roofing tiles

Additional information

Notes on contributors

James G. Kohl

James G. Kohl is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering,University of San Diego. His research interests include the application of the finite element method to engineering problems and the study of mechanical properties, durability, and foul release behavior of polymers. Dr. Kohl received his B.S.M.E. from Western New England College in Springfield, MA in 1985, M.S.M.E. from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, MA in 1989, and Ph.D. from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY in 1995.

Andrew G. Kohl

Andrew G. Kohl is an undergraduate mechanical engineering student at the University of San Diego.

Angel Licea-Claverie

Angel Licea-Claverie is Professor for Polymer Chemistry at the Technological Institute of Tijuana (ITT), which is part of the National Technological Institute of Mexico. He obtained his PHD in Chemistry at the Technische Hochschule Leuna-Merseburg, Germany in 1990. He was Guest Scientist at Stanford University working at the NSF-MRSEC: Center on Polymer Interfaces and Macromolecular Assemblies in 2001.He was also Guest Scientist at the Nanoscience and Nanotech Center of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), in Ensenada, Mexico in 2011. He is currently the Chief of the Polymer Laboratory at ITT, carrying out research on responsive polymers in different architectures, including polymer nancomposites for biomedical applications.

Arturo Zizumbo-Lopez

Arturo Zizumbo-Lopez is a professor in the Centro de Graduados e Investigación of Instituto Tecnológico de Tijuana in Tijuana, B.C. México. His research interests include the preparation and characterization of polymeric nanocomposites and composites as advanced materials for engineering applications. Dr. Zizumbo received his B.D. in Chemical Engineering from Guanajuato University in Guanajuato, Mex. in 1989, and Ph.D. in Polymer Science from Coahuila Autonomous University in Saltillo Coahuila, Mex. in 1999.

Randika Jayasinghe

Randika Jayasinghe is the Head of the Department of Biosystems Technology at the Faculty of Technology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka. She has a PhD in Environmental Engineering from the University of Western Australia (UWA). Her PhD research looked at the practical feasibility and perceived social impact of an initiative to develop community-based recycling projects for informal sectors involved in waste management in Sri Lanka. Randika is the Project Coordinator of the Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade funded project led by UWA: ‘Australian-Sri Lankan University partnerships to develop community-based recycling businesses’.

Mascareneous Ashokcline

Mascareneous Ashokcline has a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. He was a Research Assistant of the Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade funded project led by the University of Western Australia: ‘Australian-Sri Lankan University partnerships to develop community-based recycling businesses’ from 2015 to 2017. He worked as a project Engineer in the Waste for Life building project during 2018-2019 where he developed roofing materials from waste plastics and natural fibres.

Caroline Baillie

Caroline Baillie is Professor of Praxis in Engineering and Social Justice at the University of San Diego. Baillie’s research considers socio-technical processes and systems, which enhance social justice, and educational systems that promote these. In 2006 Professor Baillie founded Waste for Life (wasteforlife.org), to ‘practice what she preached’ as a socially just engineer. WFL ‘socialises knowledge’ about materials engineering with communities wishing to transform waste into composite material products for income generation. Baillie has published 27 scholarly books, an edited series of books on ‘Engineers, Technology and Society’ and over 200 book chapters, peer reviewed journal and conference papers.