Huner, Umit2024-06-122024-06-1220172158-58492158-5857https://doi.org/10.1166/mex.2017.1359https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14551/19700The aim of this paper is to investigate the effect of chemical treatment and the maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MAPP) coupling agent on rice husk and rice husk reinforced composites. Rice husk treatments were performed by using sodium hydroxide ( NaOH) and propyl-trimethoxy-silane. Surface energy and adhesion values were estimated by using AFM. The NaOH treatment showed the most compatible adhesion force and work value (45 nN and 238 mJ/m(2)) to obtain a good interface with the polypropylene matrix. AFM and FTIR investigations revealed that NaOH mostly has a dissolving effect and silane has a coating effect on rice husk surface treatment. Water absorption value of composites was improved by chemical treatment and MAPP coupling agent. While MAPP provided an improvement in tensile and flexural properties, chemically treated husks caused a slight change in mechanical properties according to neat PP.en10.1166/mex.2017.1359info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccessChemical TreatmentAtomic Force Microscopy (AFM)FTIRRice HuskPolypropyleneMechanical-PropertiesGreen CompositesFiberArticle72134144Q3WOS:0004070145000062-s2.0-85019597692Q4