Potential use of rice straw as filler in eco-composite materials

Rice straw filled composites were prepared from poly (hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) copolymer containing 13% (mol) hydroxyvalerate. The effects of rice straw content on thermal and mechanical properties of the composites were investigated. It was shown that the value of tensile modulus value almost doubled with the increase of rice straw content, while the tensile strength slightly decreased, compared to pure PHBV resin. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry (TGA) results have demonstrated a minor effect of the rice straw on thermal behavior of PHBV resin. PHBV/RS composites are expected to be developed as materials for structural application, especially for panelized components with good thermal insulation, intended for improvement of the energy efficiency in eco-buildings.