American Journal of Materials Synthesis and Processing 2016; 1(3): 32-36 http://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/j/ajmsp doi: 10.11648/j.ajmsp.20160103.12 Utilization of Rice Husk as Reinforcement in Plastic Composites Fabrication- A Review Nwosu-Obieogu Kenechi, Chiemenem Linus, Adekunle Kayode Chemical Engineering Department, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Umuahia, Nigeria Email address: kenenwosuobie@yahoo.com (Nwosu-Obieogu K.) To cite this article: Nwosu-Obieogu Kenechi, Chiemenem Linus, Adekunle Kayode. Utilization of Rice Husk as Reinforcement in Plastic Composites Fabrication- A Review. American Journal of Materials Synthesis and Processing. Vol. 1, No. 3, 2016, pp. 32-36. doi: 10.11648/j.ajmsp.20160103.12 Received: September 21, 2016; Accepted: October 2, 2016; Published: October 25, 2016 Abstract: This report is based on the utilization of rice husk as reinforcement for plastic composites. Synthetic plastic composites are growing increasingly important as they are been used in almost all areas of life as far as the industry is concerned, this has led to its price escalation, environmental pollution and being mostly by-products of petroleum, these materials are non-renewable. Overcoming these problems gave the motivation for this work; hence this study tends to look at rice husk as a potential reinforcement for plastic composite fabrication by analysing its properties, uses, application as well as the process involved. Keywords: Rice Husk, Composites, Polymer, Fibers, Plastic 1. Introduction The development of science and technology has created a need to develop engineering materials having light weight, high strength with specific properties as per service requirement at low cost and minimum energy consumption. Thus, the concept of composite materials has come into existence partially replacing existing metals, non-metals and alloys in various engineering applications. The idea of composite materials however is not a new or recent one but has been around thousands of years. [1] Since the early 1960s, there has been an increase in the demand for stronger, stiffer and more lightweight materials for use in the aerospace, transportation and construction industries. Demands on high performance engineering materials have led to the extensive research and development in the field of composite materials. Many composites used today are at the leading edge of materials technology, enabling their use in advanced applications such as aircraft and aerospace structures [1]. Just as mankind has moved from Stone Age to the composite age, so have composites evolved from the chopped straw bricks of primitive times to today’s sophisticated ceramic matrix composite and metal matrix composite. There has been an extraordinary explosion in composite usage, research and application. Now composites find unusual and exotic applications such as stealth aircraft and superconductive composite. Generally, a composite material is made up of reinforcement (fibers, particles, flakes, and/or fillers) embedded in a matrix (polymers). The reinforcement materials provides strength to the composites where as the matrix holds the fibre in desired shape and transfer the load from one fibre to other. [2] Composites are one of the fastest growing industries and continue to demonstrate a significant impact on the material world. [1] In recent years, there has been growing environmental consciousness and understanding of the need for sustainable development, which has raised interest in using natural fibers as reinforcements in polymer composites to replace synthetic fibers such as glass. The advantages of natural fibers include low price, low density, sustainable availability and low abrasive wear of processing machinery. Further, natural fibers are recyclable, biodegradable and carbon dioxide neutral and their energy can be recovered in an environmentally acceptable way. [2] Recent interest on the environmental impact of polymer- based materials has lead to the development of new products prepared with recycled polymers and/or containing biodegradable materials. Lignocellulosic plastic composites constitute an important set within this kind of materials