Desenvolvimento e caracterização de compósitos de cinza de casca de arroz em matriz epóxi

Abstract

The scarcity of non-renewable natural resources and the increasing of environmental pollution have enlarged the need for materials with special properties, which have been at the same time non-toxic and sustainable. Regarding the inclusion of byproducts, which were industrial wastes before, into new productive processes, could minimize such problems. Rice husk is a solid waste widely generated not only in Brazil but also worldwide. It is considered the main industrial byproduct of rice manufacture and has been used as biomass for power generation, reducing the negative environmental impact caused by its disposal. Nevertheless, this application also generates large amount of another waste, named rice husk ash (RHA). RHA is basically composed by silica, carbon and other components in smaller amounts. Due to the high silica content, it is supposed to claim that this is a waste with potential to be transformed into byproduct for several industries. The use of this byproduct as a reinforcing agent for producing polymer composites could be an important application alternative. The epoxy polymer is widely used in different applications even as matrix material for composites. Considering that silica is one of the most commonly used fillers reinforced epoxy composites, this study aims to develop and evaluate RHA as filler in epoxy composites., comparing it to commercial silica. For this, it was performed the processing and the preparation of RHAs (from different combustion processes) by particle size segregation, grinding and acid leaching methods. After this stage, the RHAs and silica were characterized using particle size distribution analysis, density, surface area, loss on ignition, total carbon, chemical analysis, pH, infrared spectroscopy, thermal analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction. The most appropriate parameters for the composite development were determined. The preparation and molding of composites using RHAs and silica as filler in percentages of 20, 40 and 60%wt were performed. The composites properties evaluation was performed by testing viscosity, infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, mechanical testing and water absorption. The acid leaching process used in the RHAs was effective in reducing or eliminating Fe2O3, K2O, CaO, P2O5 and Cl. According to the characterization results, RHAs and silica presented similar properties, indicating the feasibility of replacing the silica by RHA for different types of polymeric materials. However, the silica showed higher purity and low surface area compared to the RHAs. The composites production was successfully performed on a laboratory scale, but the molding process used showed bubbles hard removing from more viscous mixtures. The values obtained for the glass transition temperature after composites curing (around 140°C) and the thermal degradation temperature (above 370°C) were satisfactorily high for all samples. Through mechanical analysis and water absorption results, it was verified that the RHA composites presented similar behavior when compared with the silica composites. Therefore, they could be replaced with no negative aspects in terms of final product. SEM tests showed that there was a good distribution and dispersion of the fillers in the polymeric matrix. The adhesion interface between the particles and the RHA composites matrix was improved when compared with silica composites. However, the viscosity of mixtures containing RHA increased exponentially, could lead processing problems, depending on the application.