The Influence of Green Surface Modification of Oil Palm Mesocarp Fiber by Superheated Steam on the Mechanical Properties and Dimensional Stability of Oil Palm Mesocarp Fiber/Poly(butylene succinate) Biocomposite

The effectiveness of superheated steam (SHS) as an alternative, eco-friendly treatment method to modify the surface of pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) for biocomposite applications was investigated. The aim of this treatment was to improve the interfacial adhesion between the fiber and the polymer. The treatment was carried out in an SHS oven for different temperatures (190–230 °C) and times (30–120 min). Biocomposites fabricated from SHS-treated PALFs and polylactic acid (PLA) at a weight ratio of 30:70 were prepared via melt-blending techniques. The mechanical properties, dimensional stability, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) for the biocomposites were evaluated. Results showed that treatment at temperature of 220 °C for 60 min gave the optimum tensile properties compared to other treatment temperatures. The tensile, flexural, and impact properties as well as the dimensional stability of the biocomposites were enhanced by the presence of SHS-treated PALF. The SEM analysis showed improvement in the interfacial adhesion between PLA and SHS-treated PALF. XRD analysis showed an increase in the crystallinity with the addition of SHS-PALF. The results suggest that SHS can be used as an environmentally friendly treatment method for the modification of PALF in biocomposite production.

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Influence of Alkaline-Peroxide Treatment of Fiber on the Mechanical Properties of Oil Palm Mesocarp Fiber/Poly(butylene succinate) Biocomposite

BioResources ◽

10.15376/biores.10.1.1730-1746 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Yoon Yee Then ◽

Nor Azowa Ibrahim ◽

Norhazlin Zainuddin ◽

Buong Woei Chieng ◽

Hidayah Ariffin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Oil Palm ◽

Butylene Succinate ◽

Alkaline Peroxide

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A review of oil palm fruit fiber reinforced composites

IOP Conference Series Materials Science and Engineering ◽

10.1088/1757-899x/1212/1/012050 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 1212 (1) ◽

pp. 012050

Author(s):

B Bakri ◽

Naharuddin ◽

Mustafa ◽

A Medi ◽

L Padang

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Chemical Composition ◽

Surface Treatment ◽

Oil Palm ◽

Superheated Steam ◽

Fiber Composite ◽

Fiber Reinforced Composites ◽

Empty Fruit Bunch ◽

Reinforced Composites ◽

Palm Fruit

Abstract Oil palm fibers have been developed as reinforcement in the composite. These fibers can be produced from fruit, trunk, and frond of oil palm. In this review, the oil palm fruit fiber for reinforcing composite was focused. Oil palm fruit fibers consist of empty fruit bunch (EFB) and mesocarp fruit (MF) fibers. The chemical composition and characteristics of oil palm fruit fiber are described. Furthermore, the mechanical properties of the composite are reported to be related to the surface treatment of EFB and MF fibers. Applications of such fiber composite are included in this review. From some researches, the surface treatment methods for MF and EFB fibers as reinforcement composite was conducted with using alkali, silane, acryilic acid, acetic anhydride, hydogen peroxide, microwave, and superheated steam. The effect of these surface treatments on oil palm EFB and MF fibers displayed the improvement of the mechanical properties (tensile, flexural and impact strengths) of the composite due to enhance the interface adhesion between fiber and matrix after treatment of fibers.

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Enhancement of Tensile Strength of Oil Palm Mesocarp Fiber/Poly(butylene succinate) Biocomposite via Superheated Steam-Alkali Treatment of Oil Palm Mesocarp Fiber

Scientific Research Journal ◽

10.24191/srj.v11i2.5421 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 19 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Yoon Yee Then ◽

Nor Azowa Ibrahim ◽

Norhazlin Zainuddin ◽

Hidayah Ariffin ◽

Wan Md Zin Wan Yunus

Keyword(s):

Tensile Strength ◽

Oil Palm ◽

Superheated Steam ◽

Natural Fiber ◽

Alkali Treatment ◽

Treatment Method ◽

Tensile Fracture ◽

Scanning Electron Micrographs ◽

Butylene Succinate ◽

Soaking Time

Natural fiber is incompatible with hydrophobic polymer due to its hydrophilic nature. Therefore, surface modification of fiber is needed to impart compatibility. In this work,superheated steam (SHS)-alkali was introduced as novel surface treatment method to modify oil palm mesocarp fiber (OPMF) for fabrication of biocomposites. The OPMF was first pre-treated with SHS and subsequently treated with varying NaOH concentration (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5%) and soaking time (1, 2, 3 and 4h) at room temperature. The biocomposites were then fabricated by melt blending of 70 wt% SHS-alkali treated-OPMFs and 30 wt% poly(butylene succinate) in a Brabender internal mixer followed by hot-pressed moulding. The combination treatment resulted in fiber with rough surface as well as led to the exposure ofmicrofibers. The tensile test result showed that fiber treated at 2% NaOH solution and 3h soaking time produced biocomposite with highest improvement in tensile strength (69%) and elongation at break (36%) in comparison to that of untreated OPMF. The scanning electron micrographs of tensile fracture surfaces of biocomposite provide evident for improved adhesion between fiber and polymer after thetreatments.This work demonstrated that combination treatments of SHS and NaOH could be a promising way to modify OPMF for fabrication of biocomposite.

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