Studies on Degradation of Rice Husk Ash filled in Polypropylene Composites under Natural Weathering Condition
Sri Aprilia1*, Yanna Syamsuddin1, Nasrullah Razali1, Fitriani1, Amri Amin2
1Chemical Engineering Department, Engineering Faculty, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh 23111, Indonesia
2Mechanical Engineering Department, Engineering Faculty, University of Abulyatama, Aceh Besar, Indonesia
*sriaprilia[at]unsyiah.ac.id
Abstract
Natural weathering of rice husk ash filled in polypropylene composite films has been investigated by exposing the samples to a tropical clime for 4 months with max-min temperature 22 - 30oC and relative humidity 75%. Rise husk ash filled in film composite polypropylene effect of filler loading was 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9% and compare with neat composite. The silica from rice husk ash was isolated with acetic acid. The silica content was analyzed by XRD, SEM and FTIR to show crystallinity, structure and functional group. The weathered film composites polypropylene was investigated before and after exposure and analyzed the morphology with FTIR and SEM. Mechanical test for the film composites polypropylene take place for tensile strength and percentages of elongation at break. The result show that the tensile strength and percentages of elongation at break decrease after natural weathering. The average tensile strength of film composites polypropylene decrease about 64.54 ± 17.50% and the elongation at break of film composites polypropylene decrease about 49.33 ± 15.28%.
Keywords: silica from rice husk ash, film composites polypropylene, morphology and mechanical test
Topic: Chemical Engineering