Compressive Strength by Atmospheric Exposure Tests of Porous Carbon Materials made from Rice Hull

The authors have investigated a new utilization of the rice hull, which is one of the agricultural wastes in Japan. This utilization is required from a viewpoint of the recycling. The rice hull silica carbon material (RHSC) is manufactured by mixing the rice hull particles with a phenol resin, pressure forming, drying, and then by carbonizing in nitrogen gas atmosphere at high temperatures. Since the rice hull has a natural porous structure, the RHS carbon is manufactured as a porous carbon material. The inorganic component in the rice hull is almost Si. Therefore, the RHSC was expected as the sliding materials such as the linear motion bearing, because it has excellent water resistance and abrasion resistance under unlubricating conditions. In this study, the compressive strength by atmospheric exposure test was examined and discussed of the RHSC. The atmospheric test was carried out referring to the Japanese Industrial Standards of JIS-Z 2381. Through one year, deterioration of the compressive strength on RHSC was not observed. RHSC is expected to be applied to the bearing in outdoor environment and linear motion bearing.