Partial Replacement of Silica by Rice Husk Powder in Polystyrene–Styrene Butadiene Rubber Blends

Abstract

The effects of partial replacement of silica by rice husk powder on the processing, mechanical properties, effect of thermo-oxidative aging, water absorption and morphology of polystyrene (PS)–styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) blend were investigated. The composites were prepared in a Brabender Plasticorder PLE 331 with rotor speed of 50 rpm at 170 C for 10 min. Rice husk powder was hybridized with silica in order to achieve superior mechanical performance. Hybrid composites of silica and rice husk powder show that, with an increase in weight ratio of silica in the hybrid filler composites of PS–SBR, the tensile strength, Young’s modulus and impact strength increased up to a certain level and there was no significant difference in elongation at break. Effect of thermo-oxidative aging and water absorption also reduced with the increase in silica weight ratio. From SEM analysis it shows that increase in the silica loading in the hybrid filler causes smaller agglomerate sizes and better distribution in the composite. This also led to improve the properties of the composite apart from the reinforcement comfort by silica.