Optimal parameters setting of injection moulding (IM) machine critically effects productivity, quality, and cost production of end products in manufacturing industries. Previously, trial and error method were the most common method for the production engineers to meet the optimal process injection moulding parameter setting. Inappropriate injection moulding machine parameter settings can lead to poor production and quality of a product. Therefore, this study was purposefully carried out to overcome those uncertainty. This paper presents a statistical technique on the optimization of injection moulding process parameters through central composite design (CCD). In this study, an understanding of the injection moulding process and consequently its optimization is carried out by CCD based on three parameters (melt temperature, packing pressure, and cooling time) which influence the shrinkage and tensile strength of rice husk (RH) reinforced low density polyethylene (LDPE) composites. Statistical results and analysis are used to provide better interpretation of the experiment. The models are form from analysis of variance (ANOVA) method and the model passed the tests for normality and independence assumptions.

Filler surface modification has become an essential approach to improve the compatibility problem between natural fillers and polymer matrices. However, there is limited work that concerns on this particular effect under dynamic loading conditions. Therefore, in this study, both untreated and treated low linear density polyethylene/rice husk composites were tested under static (0.001 s ^–1, 0.01 s ^–1 and 0.1 s ^–1) and dynamic loading rates (650 s ^–1, 900 s ^–1 and 1100 s ^–1) using universal testing machine and split Hopkinson pressure bar equipment, respectively. Rice husk filler was modified using silane coupling agents at four different concentrations (1, 3, 5 and 7% weight percentage of silane) at room temperature. This surface modification was experimentally proven by Fourier transform infrared and Field emission scanning electron microscopy. Results show that strength properties, stiffness properties and yield behaviour of treated composites were higher than untreated composites. Among the treated composites, the 5% silane weight percentage composite shows the optimum mechanical properties. Besides, the rate of sensitivity of both untreated and treated composites also shows great dependency on strain rate sensitivity with increasing strain rate. On the other hand, the thermal activation volume shows contrary trend. For fracture surface analysis, the results show that the treated LLDPE/RH composites experienced less permanent deformation as compared to untreated LLDPE/RH composites. Besides, at dynamic loading, the fracture surface analysis of the treated composites showed good attachment between RH and LLDPE.