DEVELOPMENT AND PHYSICO-MECHANICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF A COMPOSITE MATERIAL BASED ON STARCH, COTTON FIBER AND RICE HUSK

In a context where sustainability and ecology have become major issues in the building materials sector, agricultural processing generates a large quantity of by-products, such as cotton fibers and rice husks, which are often little or not at all valorized. Their disposal, in particular by incineration, contributes to environmental degradation. In a circular economy approach, this work proposes the valorization of these residues through the development of a bio-based composite combining starch, cotton fibers and rice husks. This material is intended for building applications, notably as a false-ceiling panel, as an ecological alternative to traditional plywood.
The study identified the optimal composition of the composite: 200 g of dry starch powder for 800 ml of water, used to make the glue, which is then reinforced with 175 g of cotton fibers and 60 g of rice husk.
The physical and mechanical characterization of the material revealed an absolute density of 1183 kg/m³ and a modulus of rupture (MOR) of 9.95 MPa, values that are satisfactory for use as particleboard. However, the material shows a significant thickness swelling of 30.71% after 24 hours of immersion in water, a rate far above the limits set by the ANSI 208.1-1999 standard. It can therefore only be used in dry environments.