Validity of using Single Extruder in Wood Plastic Composite from Rice Straw and High Impact Polystyrene Wastes

Abstract

This work mainly aims to study the validity of using the single extruder in achieving adhesion and compatibility between rice straw fibers and plastic wastes as an attempt for manufacturing wood plastic composite (WPC). A single extruder was used for mixing recycled high impact polystyrene (RHIPS) and Egyptian natural rice straw (RS) after being fibrated mechanically to produce an eco-friendly synthetic wood that can be named as rice straw plastic composite (RSPC). The components have passed through many operations such as drying, extrusion, shredding, etc.). To produce the final product, the flat press technique was used with a hydraulic press. Samples with 60 % mechanically fibrated rice straw (MFRS) ratio were produced. The density test was operated on the samples according to ASTM-D-792 to reveal the density of the composite. The water absorption was determined according to ASTM-D-570. Using the single extruder for blending the two components didn’t achieve high levels of compatibility. However, comparing the results with natural soft, hard wood and medium density fiberboard (MDF) synthetic wood. The prepared RSPC samples exhibited less water absorption and higher density than that of natural and MDF woods.