Possibilities of rice husk ash to be used as reinforcing filler in polymer sector -a review

Abstract

This work presents a literature review of the synthetic silica production pathways whichare classified in thermal (also known as pyrogenic) and wet. They lead to different commercial references with different properties depending not only on the process conditions but also on the raw material characteristics. Based on the aforementioned, a simile is made with the rice husk ash (RHA) obtained from rice husk combustion, and its main physical-chemical properties required for its use in polymer sector arealso shown. In this sense, this work shows a wide review of chemical composition, surface area, molecular structure (amorphous or crystalline) and particle size of different RHA found in literature. Finally, the mechanical performance of both thermoplastics and elastomers reinforced with RHA reported in literature is also described and compared with those composites reinforced with some commercial silica.