Use of vegetative material as a filler in composite materials

Abstract

The present invention provides a filler for use in composite materials wherein said filler comprises a vegetative-based material and wherein said vegetative-based material can be fresh or carbonised. In one particularly preferred embodiment the present invention utilises carbonised rice husk. In a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a process for the production of a carbonised vegetative-based filler wherein said process comprises burning a fresh vegetative-based material at about 800° C. for about 4 seconds.

1 . A filler for use in composite materials wherein said filler comprises carbonized vegetative-based material wherein said carbonized vegetative-based material is the product of burning fresh vegetative-based material at 803° to 804° C. for 3 to 4 seconds.  
     
     
         2 . A filler according to  claim 1  wherein the carbonized vegetative-based material is carbonized rice husk.  
     
     
         3 . A filler according to  claim 1  wherein the fresh vegetative material is ground to a particle size of from 100 mesh to 400 mesh.  
     
     
         4 . A method for improving the anti-static, flame retardant, accelerator, plasticiser and/or blowing characteristics of a composite material wherein said method comprises blending into the composite material with a carbonised vegetative-based filler according to  claim 1  and wherein said blending is substantially completed prior to incorporation of any additives, if any.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4  wherein the carbonised vegetative filler has a particle size of from 100 mesh to 400 mesh.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 4  wherein said composite material is selected from the group comprising: 
 i) thermoplastic resins;    ii) thermoset plastics;    iii) rubbers and elastomeric materials;    iv) conductive coatings;    v) printing inks;    vi) bitumen; and    vii) concrete.    
     
     
         7 . A composite material having improved anti-static, flame retardant, accelerator, plasticiser and/or blowing characteristics wherein said composite material is produced by the method of  claim 7 .  
     
     
         8 . A method for improving the flame retardant ability of a thermoset resin said method comprising blending carbonised rice husk according to  claim 2  into said thermoset resin.  
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8  wherein the carbonised rice husk has a particle size of 325 to 400 mesh and the dosage of carbonised rice husk is between 10 to 15 parts per hundred.  
     
     
         10 . A method for improving the mechanical properties of thermoset resins including tensile and torque strength, said method comprising blending carbonised rice husk according to  claim 2  into said thermoset resin.  
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10  wherein the rice husk has a particle size of between 100 to 200 mesh and the dosage of rice husk is between 10 to 15 parts per hundred.  
     
     
         12 . A method for improving the anti-static properties of a thermoset resin said method comprising blending carbonised rice husk according to  claim 2  into said thermoset resin.  
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12  wherein the carbonised rice husk has a particle size of between 325 to 400 mesh and the dosage of carbonised rice husk is between 10 to 15 parts per hundred.