Properties of sugarcane bagasse and rice husk fiberglass composites / Nurulhidayah Ramli and Zuraida Abdullah

Sugarcane bagasse and rice husks are two kinds of different stuffs. Nevertheless, the number of disposal of these materials excessively brings the similarity that contributes to the environmental problem. Generally, we know that sugarcane and paddy are being the need to most of people in certain parts of the world especially covers South East Asia as well as East Asia region. After their yields are taken from these both kinds of materials, the excessive disposal will occur. This problem will be the source of attraction of pests, rats, flies and so on that could bother the atmosphere and can be threats to humans as well. In order to solve this problem, this research conducts by combining the sugarcane bagasse with raw fiberglass and rice husks with the similar materials to make a composite panel. Since the fiberglass is quite expensive, the combination of this material with sugar cane (fibers and bagasse ) rice husks (different sizes) as well may aid to reduce the cost of raw fiberglass as well as ensure that these composite panels are environmental friendly besides have the special and unique features and properties. The result shows that sugarcane fibers better than sugarcane bagasse while rice husk sized 10.0mm better than rice husk sized 20.0mm after done water absorption, tensile strength and bending strength testing.