Characterization of an Eco-friendly Gypsum Composite Board Using Agricultural Fibers (Rice Straw).

In this research, a novel mineral-based composite board was developed using gypsum as a mineral binder and rice straw as a readily available agro-based resource. The study involved two key phases: Phase 1: The preliminary assessment of rice straw-gypsum composite involved integrating different ratios of rice straw into gypsum to examine the influence of rice straw integration on the composite board's performance. The specific proportions used were 90:10%, 80:20%, and 70:30% for rice straw to gypsum. Phase 2: Reinforcement with bacterial nanocellulose fibers. In the subsequent phase, gypsum board composites containing 10%, 20%, and 30% rice straw were further enhanced by the addition of bacterial nanocellulose fibers at 1% and 3% levels. The results indicated a significant influence of rice straw incorporation on the physical and mechanical properties of the panels. The composite boards with 3% bacterial nanocellulose fiber gel exhibited the highest mechanical performance, with values of 13.5 MPa for modulus of rupture, 4650 MPa for modulus of elasticity, and 0.79 MPa for Internal Bond. The study revealed that the adverse effects of rice straw substitution on the mechanical properties and thickness swelling of the panels could be mitigated to a certain extent by incorporating nanocellulose fibers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]