Novel functional materials from rice husk ash (RHA) silica for concrete and polymer composites

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Novel functional materials from rice husk ash (RHA) silica for concrete and polymer composites The proposed research project aims to develop new functional materials for application in concrete and polymer composites. The new materials will be derived from a widely available renewable mineral resources: porous silica obtained from the combustion residue of rice hull, and generally referred to as «rice husk ash» (RHA). RHA is already known to be beneficial to the strength and durability of concrete, and its potential use as a filler in polymer composites has also been demonstrated. To date however, practical difficulties have greatly limited their use in such applications, so new approaches are needed to make RHA more valuable and «user-friendly» to practitioners To achieve this general goal, the RHA will be upgraded and modified through various chemical approaches. For concrete application, we will develop strategies for «fixing» certain types of admixtures (e.g., plasticizers, shrinkage control agents, corrosion inhibitors) in the pores of the RHA for timely release during different phases of concrete mixing, hydration, setting and hardening. The RHA functions envisaged for composite materials are similar in principle, but will be developed to alleviate specific problems, typically difficulties in homogeneously processing pelletized solid polymers and liquid components (processing aids, plasticizers), or the necessity for time-dependent release of additives which improve specific properties, i.e., surface finish, surface conductivity, etc.