Optimization of Plasma Treatment for Enhanced Filler Matrix Adhesion in Manufacturing Green Composites with Rice Husk

The objective of the current work is to study the effect of plasma treatment of rice husk (RH) to reduce the water absorption of natural filler (RH) reinforced unsaturated polyester matrix composite. RH was treated by low-pressure radio frequency plasma in a capacitively coupled plasma reactor at room temperature using nitrogen gas. It was observed that the composites manufactured from plasma-treated RH had lower water absorption as compared with non-treated ones. An experimental matrix for nitrogen plasma treatment of RH with the key process variables such as RF power, treatment time and reactor pressure was determined and experiments were performed according to the experimental matrix to optimize the process parameters by response surface methodology of a central composite design. A quadratic model was developed to predict the percentage reduction of water absorption owing to change in plasma process variables. The process variables were optimized using the predicted model and the optimum conditions were verified by experimental data.