Rice Husk-Derived Silica: A Sustainable Alternative to Traditional Fillers in Elastomeric Composites

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the use of natural fibres as resources for fibre-based products, mostly driven by escalating environmental concerns, hence the adoption of sustainable manufacturing procedures through various green manufacturing techniques and processes. Agricultural residues provide the dual advantage of being cost-effective and environmentally beneficial. Rice husk is known to be rich in silica and has the potential to serve as a filler in elastomeric composites, thereby replacing the traditional petro-based fillers, which are unsustainable, hazardous to health, and consume lots of energy during processing. The applications of green materials today are developing consistently, conquering and entering modern markets. This paper investigates the suitability of rice husk-derived silica as a filler in elastomers based on recent research findings. Additionally, this study sheds insight into diverse modification strategies that can potentially augment the mechanical qualities by altering the chemical and physical characteristics of the husk. This work aims to enhance comprehension of the phenomena related to the production of bio-composites using rice husk as a filler material for elasto mers.