Paper Title
Calcium Carbonate Composition Effect Upon Morphology, Water Absorption And Flexural Properties Of Hybrid Filled Kenaf And Rice Husk

Abstract
The effect of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) on flexural, water absorption and morphology of kenaf/CaCO3/HDPE and rice husk/CaCO3/HDPE hybrid composites was examined. In this study the hybrid composites with varying weight of up to 70%, HDPE, up to 30% CaCO3and fixed 30% of natural fiber was compounded separately using twin-screw extruder at 50rpm. Water absorption of the hybrid composite increased with the addition of CaCO3 mineral filler. Hybrid composite consist kenaf have higher ability to absorb water due to the high cellulose compared to rice husk hybrid composite. The flexural test showed that in general, addition of up to 20% CaCO3 into both hybrids composite had increased the flexural strength and flexural modulus. Keywords— Hybrid Composite, Natural Fiber, Mineral Filler, Flexural Properties, Water Absorption Behaviour.