pandanus tectorius fiber/ rice husk powder as green reinforcement for lightweight composites: evaluation of impact strength properties and thermal stability

Agricultural wastes such as pandanus tectorius fiber (dps) and rice husk powder (rhs) are cost-effective, low-density, biodegradable, and environmentally friendly materials. this study investigates the impact strength and thermal properties of polyester composites with varying dps/rhs ratios. dps treated with 20% naoh were combined in 10%, 15%, 20%, and 30% (vol.), while rhs were varied from 5% to 10% (vol.). the results showed that increasing fiber content improved the composite’s impact strength and thermal stability. the highest impact strength was achieved by sample g30/10 (30% dps: 10% rhs) at 55.8 ± 1.89 kj/mm², while the lowest was x10/5 (10% dps: 5% rhs) at 22.23 ± 3.4 kj/mm². sample x30/5 (30% dps: 5% rhs) exhibited the best thermal stability with only 4.47% weight loss, whereas sample g15/10 (15% dps: 10% rhs) experienced 67% weight loss. sem analysis revealed fiber-matrix interactions influencing impact properties. these findings suggest that dps/rhs composites could be applied in lightweight, green thermal insulation solutions, and automotive components, promoting sustainable waste utilization.