Studies on mechanical characterization and water resistance of glass fiber/thermoplastic polymer bionanocomposites
(2391–2396)Journal of Applied Polymer  Science 123 #4 (2012)
Kord of the slamic Azad University, Iran, studied rice husk flour/glass fiber reinforced high density polyethylene hybrid nanocomposites.  The nanoclay was compounded with high density polyethylene (HDPE), rice husk flour (RF), glass fiber, and coupling agent in an internal mixer; then, injection molded.  The concentration was varied from 0 to 6 per hundred compounds for nanoclay and from 0 to 15% for glass fiber.  The amount of coupling agent was fixed at 2% for all formulations.  Both modulus and strength were improved when glass fibers were added to the composites system but impact strength and moisture absorption further decreased with the increase of glass fiber content.  The morphological findings revealed that the nanocomposites formed were intercalated. The mechanical analysis showed that the biggest improvement of the tensile and flexural modulus and strengths can be achieved for the nanoclay loading at 4 per hundred compounds. However, further increasing of the loading of nanoclay resulted in a decrease of impact strength. Finally, it was found that addition of nanoclay reduced the water absorption and thickness swelling of the composites.  (RDC 11/2/2011)

Hybrid Composites Made from Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches/Jute Fibres: Water Absorption, Thickness Swelling and Density Behaviours
(106-109) Journal of Polymers and the Environment 19 #1 (2011)
Jaeaid et al Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia, prepared hybrid composite materials from combination of oil palm Empty fruit bunches (EFB) fibre and jute fibre as reinforcement, in an epoxy matrix.  Water absorption and thickness swelling test reveal that hybrid composite shows a moderate water absorption which is 11.20% for hybrid EFB/Jute/EFB composite and 6.08% for hybrid Jute/EFB/Jute composite.  Hybridization of oil palm EFB composites with jute fibres can improve the dimensional stability and density of pure EFB and Jute fibre reinforced composites.  (RDC 4/22/2011) .

Hybridized Biocomposites from Agro-Wastes: Mechanical, Physical and Thermal Characterization
(49-58) Journal of Polymers and the Environment 19 #1 (2011)
Bhat et al of the Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia,  prepared hybridized plywood using 250 and 450 g/m2 of urea formaldehyde (UF) as gluing agent and agricultural wastes, oil palm trunk (OPT) veneer and oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) mat .  (RDC 4/22/2011)