Recent Advances in Fiber-Reinforced Biopolymers Derived from Rice Husk Waste for Sustainable Construction Materials †
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Mechanical Properties of Fiber-Reinforced Biopolymers Made from RH
- Tensile Strength: Tensile strength, or resistance to pulling forces, is a key performance parameter in composite design. The addition of RH to low-density polyethylene (LDPE) increases tensile strength, although the benefit is slightly offset by reduced thermal stability. This makes such composites favorable for rigid packaging applications [4]. The reinforcement of epoxy resin with RH, along with sawdust and seashells, yields a significant increase in tensile strength. The hybridization of fillers improves fiber–matrix bonding [14]. In recycled linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), RH combined with nanosilica or nanoclay enhances tensile strength. The use of compatibilizers like maleic anhydride facilitates better dispersion and stress transfer [15].
- Flexural Strength: Flexural strength refers to a material’s ability to resist deformation under bending. Glass–Epoxy Composites: Incorporating RH into glass fiber-reinforced epoxy systems increases both flexural strength and interlaminar shear resistance. This makes them suitable for lightweight structural components [16]. Polyester-Based Composites: Hybrid composites formed by RH and red mud coir in polyester matrices demonstrate improved flexural properties, attributed to enhanced interfacial adhesion.
- Impact Resistance: Impact resistance measures the energy a material can absorb before fracture. Adding RH improves the impact resistance of epoxy composites, especially when used with coir pith and other fillers. This contributes to toughness and crack resistance. While the addition of RH slightly decreases impact resistance in LDPE composites due to fiber rigidity, the effect can be mitigated with nanoscale additives or toughening agents [4].
- Water Absorption and Swelling: The hydrophilic nature of RH fibers affects the water absorption behavior of composites. Water uptake increases due to the natural porosity of RH, which may lead to swelling and reduced dimensional stability [4]. Treatments like nanosilica inclusion help reduce water absorption and thickness swelling in recycled plastic–RH composites, increasing their applicability in humid environments [15].
- Thermal Properties: Thermal behavior is critical for determining a composite’s operating limits. Thermal stability slightly decreases, but the degree of crystallinity increases with RH addition, which can improve stiffness [4]. When RH is used in conjunction with carbon or silica particles, thermal resistance improves, supporting applications in electronics and heat-sensitive packaging [17]. Table 1 compiles reported mechanical performance metrics of rice husk-reinforced polymers, highlighting variations in strength under different matrix conditions.
3. Comparison of Mechanical Properties of Fiber-Reinforced Biopolymers Derived from Rice Husk Waste
4. Thermal Stability of Rice Husk (RH)-Reinforced Polymers
5. Potential Applications of Fiber-Reinforced Biopolymers Made from Rice Husk Waste in the Construction Industry
6. Environmental and Economic Benefit of Rice Husk-Reinforced Polymer Composites
7. Sustainability of Fiber-Reinforced Biopolymers Derived from Rice Husk Waste
8. Challenges and Future Directions of Rice Husk-Reinforced Polymer Composites
8.1. Challenges of Rice Husk-Reinforced Polymer Composites
8.2. Future Directions of Rice Husk-Reinforced Polymer Composites
9. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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| Matrix | Parametric Study | Tensile Strength (MPa) | Impact Strength (kJ/m2) | Study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polyethylene (PE) | Alkaline-treated rice husk, 35% filler loading | Higher than untreated | Not specified | [18] |
| Polypropylene (PP) | 2–8% rice husk, 5% calcium carbonate | Reduced until 6%, then increased | Reduced until 6%, then increased | [19] |
| PLA | Rice husk powder with MAPP coupling agent | Increased with RH content | Not specified | [20] |
| HDPE | Rice husk with PEGMA compatibilizer | Improved | Not specified | [21] |
| PLA and LLDPE | 0.5–1% rice husk silica | Decreased with 1% RH silica | Not specified | [22] |
| Epoxy resin | Glass fiber and rice husk particulates | Modified | Not specified | [16] |
| Recycled HDPE (r-HDPE) | Maleate, alkali, acid-treated rice husk | Highest with maleate at 10% | Not specified | [23] |
| Polyolefins (LDPE, HDPE, PP) | 30% LDPE, 40% HDPE, 30% PP, rice husk, Polybond compatibilizer | Improved | Not specified | [24] |
| PP | Rice husk with talc, mica, CaCO3, wollastonite, zirconium oxide, MAPP | Improved | Improved | [25] |
| Epoxy resin | 0–6% rice husk with BVW and BVWS fibers | Improved | Slightly decreased | [26] |
| Matrix Type | RH Contribution to Mechanical Properties | Quantitative Outcomes | Study |
|---|---|---|---|
| Epoxy | Major gains in tensile, flexural, impact, and hardness due to strong interfacial bonding and nano-particle reinforcement | Tensile: 152 MPa; Flexural: 135 MPa; Hardness: 97 Shore D; Impact: 13.7 kJ/m2 | [27] |
| Polypropylene (PP/PPRC) | Improved tensile strength, modulus, and impact after NaOH treatment; good fatigue stability | TS up to 37.4 MPa; Modulus up to 2247 MPa; Impact up to 19.6 kJ/m2 | [29,30,32] |
| Resin (3D-printed gyroid) | Significant tensile and modulus increase with higher RH loading; geometry enhances load distribution | Tensile: 8.56 → 18.7 MPa (10–30% RH); Modulus ≈ 718 MPa | [33] |
| Mycelium biopolymer binder | Moderate tensile and flexural strength; biodegradable, low-density composite | Tensile: 2.59 MPa; Flexural: 5.79 MPa | [34] |
| Cementitious biopolymer composites | Silica-rich RH increases stiffness and elastic modulus | 9.4% increase in modulus of elasticity | [36] |
| Hybrid (RH + rice straw) | Synergistic improvement in tensile strength and modulus | Highest values in NaOH-treated hybrid systems | [35] |
| Polymer Matrix | Reinforcement | Thermal Stability | Degradation Temp (°C) | Other Thermal Properties | Study |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Epoxy | RHNFs (0.25, 0.45, 0.65 wt.%) | 0.45 wt.% RHNFs: 371–384 °C | 411 °C (1st), 678 °C (2nd) | Improved Tg: E″ (90.48–97.69 °C), tan δ (103.35–109.67 °C) | [42] |
| PP, HDPE | RHF | Decreased with RHF increase | - | Activation energy varied with content | [38] |
| Novolac | RH, CC, AV | RH composite had higher stability | - | Improved flame retardancy | [45] |
| - | NaOH-treated RH | Decreased with NaOH | Lowered by 24–26 °C | - | [39] |
| HDPE | RH, sawdust | Evaluated via TGA | - | Fire-retardant agents improved behavior | [46] |
| PVC | RH, BF | Improved with BF | - | - | [41] |
| Recycled HDPE | RH biochar (10–40%) | 40%: Best thermal stability | - | Lowest burning rate, high LOI, reduced PHRR & THR | [44] |
| PP | RH (0–60 wt.%) | Increased with RH content | - | - | [47] |
| Thio urea-formaldehyde | RH (10, 30, 50 wt.%) | 50%: More stable | 100 °C: 5–7%, 250 °C: 30–40%, 400 °C: 55–60%, 650 °C: 60–70% | - | [48] |
| ABS | RHA | Affected by RHA content | - | - | [49] |
| NBR | RHA, FS | Improved with γ-irradiation | - | - | [50] |
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Boro, P.R.; Borthakur, P.P.; Saikia, M.; Yadav, S.; Deka, R. Recent Advances in Fiber-Reinforced Biopolymers Derived from Rice Husk Waste for Sustainable Construction Materials. Mater. Proc. 2025, 26, 16. https://doi.org/10.3390/materproc2025026016
Boro PR, Borthakur PP, Saikia M, Yadav S, Deka R. Recent Advances in Fiber-Reinforced Biopolymers Derived from Rice Husk Waste for Sustainable Construction Materials. Materials Proceedings. 2025; 26(1):16. https://doi.org/10.3390/materproc2025026016
Chicago/Turabian StyleBoro, Pabina Rani, Partha Protim Borthakur, Madhurjya Saikia, Saroj Yadav, and Rupam Deka. 2025. "Recent Advances in Fiber-Reinforced Biopolymers Derived from Rice Husk Waste for Sustainable Construction Materials" Materials Proceedings 26, no. 1: 16. https://doi.org/10.3390/materproc2025026016
APA StyleBoro, P. R., Borthakur, P. P., Saikia, M., Yadav, S., & Deka, R. (2025). Recent Advances in Fiber-Reinforced Biopolymers Derived from Rice Husk Waste for Sustainable Construction Materials. Materials Proceedings, 26(1), 16. https://doi.org/10.3390/materproc2025026016
