Assessment of the Mechanical Characteristics of a Polymeric Composite Reinforced with Rice Husk Filler

Naturally derived composite materials represent a groundbreaking category of materials, showcasing exceptional adaptability and performance across a vast array of light-weight applications. Rice husk (RH) emerges as a cost-effective byproduct in the course of rice processing, effortlessly parted from the rice grain during the milling process. RH stands out as a fibrous material rich in cellulose, boasting an extensive array of aspect ratios and serving as an excellent instance for filler material. During this phase of the research, focus is placed on meticulously crafting composite materials by combining rice husk filler with epoxy resin at varying weight percentages (0.0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10, and 12.5%) and employing the hand lay-up method. The research progresses with the mechanical characterization of the tensile and flexural properties of the developed composite materials. The results illuminated that the incorporation of rice husk filler up to 7.5% into the epoxy matrix increased the tensile and flexural strength along with their modulus, and then the properties gradually decreased. The maximum percentage elongation for both tensile and flexural properties was recorded at 5% rice husk filler concentration. Finally, incorporating rice husk filler yielded cost-effective materials with improved mechanical properties, presenting a viable alternative to plastic and traditional materials across diverse indoor and outdoor applications.