Influence of different surface treatment techniques on properties of rice husk incorporated polymer composites

Rice husk natural fiber remains a highly abun-dant, eco-friendly and low-cost reinforcement filler for plastic composites fabrication. Hampered by its low aspect ratio and incompatibility with non-polar polymers, its uti-lization in reinforcing polymer composites often results in decreased composite properties such as decreased tensile strength, impact strength, percentage elongation, and flex-ural strength. However, stiffness increases. Various surface treatment techniques such as mercerization, compatibili-zation, acetylation, electron beam irradiation and plasma surface modification have been employed to improve its compatibility with non-polar matrix polymers. This article critically reviews the influence of these surface modification techniques on the resulting composite properties. Based on the analysis of reinforcing efficiencies of these techniques, their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, the authors, therefore, project plasma treatment as the most efficient and eco-friendly technique with prospects for high technological application of rice husk plastic composites.