Improved interfacial compatibility between unsaturated polyester resin and rice straw fibers after non-washing treatment with Ca(OH).

The agricultural industry produces a substantial volume of rice straw (RS) annually, highlighting the importance of recycling RS for sustainable materials. However, the poor interfacial compatibility between RS and polymers often leads to drawbacks in their composites, such as water-swelling and limited tensile strength. Here, we propose a novel approach using Ca(OH) that offers several distinct advantages: enhancement of interfacial compatibility, elimination of the need for water washing, and formation of calcified hybrid particles on fiber surfaces by capturing CO from the atmosphere.