Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Novel Composites of Methyl Silicone Polymer and Partially Ceramized Rice Bran

• Published in: Industrial & engineering chemistry research Vol. 52; no. 3; pp. 1275 - 1283
• Main Authors: Hassan, M. Mahbubul, Takahashi, Tatsuhiro, Koyama, Kyohito
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: American Chemical Society 23.01.2013
• Subjects: Blends; Carbon; Carbonaceous materials; Compressive strength; Crosslinking; Polymer matrix composites; Silicones; Water absorption
• ISSN: 0888-5885; 1520-5045
• DOI: 10.1021/ie301922d

Rice bran (RB), rich in carbon and silicone, is an agricultural waste that is abundantly available in rice producing countries. In this work, composites of a preceramic methyl silicone resin (MSR) and RB were prepared by blending powdered RB with a molten MSR at 110 °C at various ratios in a Brabender-type static mixer. Composites were made from them by compression molding and cross-linking at 260 °C under 20 MPa pressure. The thermal, mechanical, and chemical properties of the produced composites were assessed by thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and FT-IR and by measuring compressive strength and hygroscopic expansion. It was found that RB was partially ceramized and decomposed to carbonaceous materials during cross-linking. The water absorption and hygroscopic expansion of the MSR/RB composites were increased but the compressive strength was decreased with an increase in the weight % of RB. The highest compressive strength was shown by the composites made from the 50/50 blends, which was 27.61 MPa. The developed composites showed an excellent compressive strength and also very low water absorption and hygroscopic expansion.