Abstract:

Ricehullpolyethylene composite samples were natural weathered for one year and same material was accelerated weathered by ultra violet（UV） radiation in laboratory. The authors researched property change and analyzed weathering mechanism by FTIR. The result will help properly evaluate the properties of natural fiber reinforced polymer composite and improve formula. In the first 5 months, there was almost no color change for natural weathering samples because of low temperature and short sun shining time. Experiencing hot summer, color changed significantly and the result was similar to that of 1 500 h accelerated UV weathering. In accelerated weathering, the first 500 h was enough to present chemical property change on weathered surface, however, in later 1 500 h changed a little. In natural weathering, 12 months presented obviously surface chemical change. Experiencing weathering, ricehullpolyethylene composite changed color and surface chemical property earlier. However, both accelerated weathering and natural weathering did not decrease mechanical properties significantly in the short test duration.

Key words: rice hull polyethylene composite, natural weathering, accelerated weathering, mechanical property, color