Effect of surface treatment on water absorption of rice husk reinforced recycled high density polyethylene (rHDPE) composites

The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of surface treatment on rice husk reinforced recycled high density polyethylene (rHDPE) composites. Three types of surface treatments on rice husk were carried out which were maleated treatment, alkali treatment and acrylic acid treatment. Water absorption test was examined in distilled water. It showed that the lower the loading of rice husk, the lower the water absorption percentage. Maleated treatment on rice husk reinforced rHDPE has the highest resistance of water absorption tendency. Scanning electron microscope analysis of the composites showed that the lower the rice husk loading, the better the interfacial bonding of the composites. Maleated treatment of rice husk also showed that there is no gaps formed in the structure.