A Study on Rice Husk-Polymer Matrix Baishnab Charan Prusty* Department of Chemistry, Salipur Autonomous College, Odisha, India Subrat Pradhan** Department Physics, Vedvayas College, Rourkela, Odisha, India P Ramakrishnan *** Department of Chemical Engineering, NIT Rourkela, Odisha, India Abstract:- In this investigation rice husk (RH), a waste product agriculture industry is used as filler to be reinforced in to the polymer matrix of p-nitroaniline (PNA) and of m- aminophenol (MAP). A pre-polymer of PNA and MAP was prepared by the condensation polymerization method in presence of formaldehyde as condensing agent and 2N- Sulphuric Acid.RH at different wt% of 10,30, 50 was reinforced into the polymer matrix by heating to 80 0 C for 8hrs to get the biomass composite. The composite was sonicated in presence of 2N sulphuric acid for 20min at room temperature to get the nanocomposites. The solubility parameters of the resin was found out which gives encouraging result. XRD of the nanocomposites reveals the particle size to be 7-80nm. Form the XRD data the % crystallinity and elastic strain was found out. INTRODUCTION The use of natural fibers for textile materials began before recorded history. The oldest indication of fiber use is probably the discovery of flax and wood fabrics at excavation sites of the swiss lake dwellers (7 th and 6 th centuries BC). Several vegetable fibers were also used by prehistoric peoples. Hemp, Presumable the oldest cultivated fiber plant, originated in southeast Aisa, then spread to China, where reports of cultivation dated to 4500BC. The art of weaving and spinning linen was already well developed in Egypt by 3400BC, indicating that flax was cultivated sometime before that date. Reports of the spinning of cotton in India dates back to 3000BC. The manufacture of silk and silk products originated in the highly developed Chinese culture the invention and development of sericulture (cultivation of silk worms for raw-silk production) and of methods to spin silk dates from 2640BC.[1,2] With improved transportation and communication, highly localized skills and arts connected with textile manufacture spread to other countries and were adapted to local needs and capabilities. New fiber plants were also discovered and their use explored. In the 18 th and 19 th centuries, the Industrial Revolution encouraged the further invention of machines for use in processing various natural fibers, resulting in a tremendous upsurge in fiber production.[3] The introduction of regenerated cellulosic fibers formed of cellulose material that has been dissolved, purified and extruded, such as rayon, followed by the invention of completely synthetic fibers, such as nylon, challenged the monopoly of natural fibers for textile and industrial use. A variety of synthetic fibers having specific desirable properties began to penetrate and dominate markets previously monopolized by natural fibers. Recognition of the competitive threat from synthetic fibers resulted in intensive research directed toward the breeding of new and better strains of natural fiber sources with higher yields, improved production and processing methods and modification of fiber yarn or fabric properties.[4] The considerable improvements achieved have permitted increased total production although natural fibers, actual share of the market has decreased with the influx of the cheaper, synthetic fibers requiring fewer man- hours for production. Following examples of nature and from history, researchers began searching for a material that can reproduce properties of interest. This search was an attempt to find more advanced materials whose properties like mechanical strength, thermal stability dielectric behavior etc are superior to those of individual components and that will meet the demands of the modern market. There has been an increasing interest for materials that are stiffer and stronger yet lighter in fields such as aerospace, energy, civil constructions etc. Currently, polymers are the materials most commonly used as matrices for composite materials. Empty resins and polyesters have been used for decades, however, some advanced thermoplastic such as polyamides and polysulphones have also received special attention mainly because of their attractive properties at elevated temperatures ( >3000 0 C). The characteristics of such polymers, their easy handling and stability corrosion led to great developments in key industrial sectors, such as chemical production, food processing, shipping and air transport and manufacturing electrical and electronic equipment. In order to replace the synthetic fibers natural fibers which are materials of ecological interest and are economic have been extensively studied in recent years as reinforcements in thermoplastic and thermosetting polymer matrix.[5] As such our research involves the study of composites using rice husk which is commonly available in Orissa as a by product of Agriculture industry. At present importance is given by researchers to developing and commercializing composite materials based on constituents derived from renewable sources, so as to reduce the dependence on non-renewable sources both International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT) ISSN: 2278-0181 http://www.ijert.org IJERTV8IS110377 (This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.) Published by : www.ijert.org Vol. 8 Issue 11, November-2019 829