Evaluation of Rice Husk Composite Boards Prepared Using Different Adhesives and Processing Methods

Authors

  • Suman Pradhan Department of Sustainable Bioproducts, Forest and Wildlife Research Center (FWRC), College of Forest Resources (CFR), Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762-9820 USA
  • Edward Entsminger Department of Sustainable Bioproducts, Forest and Wildlife Research Center (FWRC), College of Forest Resources (CFR), Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762-9820 USA
  • Mostafa Mohammadabadi Department of Sustainable Bioproducts, Forest and Wildlife Research Center (FWRC), College of Forest Resources (CFR), Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762-9820 USA
  • Daniel Seale Department of Sustainable Bioproducts, Forest and Wildlife Research Center (FWRC), College of Forest Resources (CFR), Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762-9820 USA
  • Kevin Ragon Department of Sustainable Bioproducts, Forest and Wildlife Research Center (FWRC), College of Forest Resources (CFR), Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762-9820 USA

Keywords:

Rice husk, Silica, Sodium hydroxide, Phenol formaldehyde, pMDI, Internal bond, Bending, Water performance

Abstract

Rice husks, a byproduct of rice milling, were used to develop composite boards. Different processing methods, grinding, and treating with sodium hydroxide (NaOH), were adopted to improve the bonding and mechanical performance. NaOH solution was prepared at 5% (wt/v) concentration. The effect of different adhesives, phenol formaldehyde (PF), and polymeric diphenylmethane diisocyanate (pMDI), was evaluated. Rice husks mixed with resin were hot pressed to the target density of 768 kg/m3 and thickness of 12.7 mm. Specimens cut from these flat panels were submitted to bending, internal bond, water absorption, and thickness swelling tests. Results revealed that chemical treatment with NaOH significantly improved fiber-to-fiber bonding of rice husks. Internal bond strength of specimens made from chemically treated rice husks increased at least 1000% compared to others. Considering the mechanical properties and water uptake, rice husk boards fabricated with unprocessed rice husks and pMDI showed a better performance.

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Published

2023-11-30

Issue

Vol. 19 No. 1 (2024)

Section

Research Article or Brief Communication