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 method for improving the mechanical properties of bitumen, said method comprising blending fresh and/or carbonised rice husk together with tyre crumb into said bitumen.  
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the rice husk has a particle size of from 100 to 200 mesh and the dosage of rice husk is between 40 to 60 phr.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the rice husk and tyre crumb is mixed in composition with a palm oil effluent prior to it being added to the bitumen.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 3  wherein the composition comprises about 50% tyre crumb, about 45% rice husk and about 5% palm oil effluent.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 3  wherein the composition is added in a dosage amount of about 20% by weight of the said bitumen.  
     
     
         6 . A method for improving the blowing character of a thermoplastic resin this method comprising blending fresh and/or carbonised rice husk into said thermoplastic resin. wherein the rice husk has a particle size of between 325 to 400 mesh and the dosage of the rice husk is between 1.5 to 2.5 phr.  
     
     
         7 . A method for improving the mechanical properties of thermoplastic resin including compression strength, said method comprising blending rice husk into said thermoplastic resin wherein said rice husk has a particle size of between 325 to 400 mesh and the dosage of the rice husk is between 1.5 and 2.5 phr.  
     
     
         8 . A method for improving the blowing character of rubber said method comprising blending fresh and/or carbonised rice husk into said rubber.  
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8  wherein the rice husk has a particle size of between 325 to 400 mesh and the dosage of the rice husk is between 1.5 and 27 phr.  
     
     
         10 . A method for reducing the cure time of ebonite NR wherein said method comprises blending fresh rice husk into said ebonite NR. wherein the rice husk has a particle size of between 100 to 200 mesh and the dosage of the rice husk is between 16 to 30 phr.  
     
     
         11 . A method for improving the scotch time of rubber said method comprising blending fresh and/or carbonised rice husk into said rubber.  
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11  wherein the rice husk has a particle size of between 100 to 200 mesh and the dosage of rice husk is between 5 to 10 phr.