Water Absorption Behaviour of Epoxy/Acrylated Epoxidized Palm Oil (AEPO) Reinforced Hybrid Kenaf/Glass Fiber Montmorillonite (HMT) Composites

The use of fiber-reinforced vegetable oil - polymer composites has increased in various technical fields. However, the long-term operating performance of these materials is still not well understood, limiting the development of these composites. In this study, the water absorption performance of hybrid composites, which consist of kenaf fiber and glass fiber as reinforcement, epoxy resin and acrylated epoxidized palm oil (AEPO) as a matrix, and montmorillonite (MMT) nano clays as a filler was evaluated with the function of different fibers layering order. The hand lay-up method is used to produce the composites with the variable number of kenaf fibers and glass fibers layer sequences. The water absorption kinetics of epoxy/AEPO reinforced hybrid kenaf/glass fiber-filled MMT composites are described in this paper. It has been observed that the water absorption rate of the composites depends on the fiber layering sequences. The alternative sequence of Glass-Kenaf-Kenaf-Glass and Kenaf-Glass-Kenaf-Glass composites layers exhibited the lowest moisture absorption rates of 7.61% and 7.63%, respectively.

POTENTIAL OF FABRICATION OF DURIAN SKIN FIBER BIOCOMPOSITES FOR FOOD PACKAGING APPLICATION THROUGH THE ELECTRICITY IMPACT ANALYSIS

As an effort to replace the petroleum-based polymers and reduce waste-related environmental problems, biopolymers are the best candidate due to their renewable, biodegradable and commercially viable. Initiative have been taken by developing durian skin fibre (DSF) reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) biocomposites with the addition of epoxidized palm oil (EPO). PLA/DSF biocomposites were fabricated via extrusion and then injection moulded. The biocomposites were assessed for its life cycle by developing a system boundary related to its fabrication processes using GaBi software. The life cycle assessment (LCA) of PLA/DSF biocomposites show that global warming potential (GWP) and acidification potential (AP) were the major impacts from PLA/DSF biocomposite. For PLA/DSF biocomposite, the results were 199.37 kg CO2 equiv. GWP and 0.58 kg SO2 equiv. AP. Meanwhile, for PLA/DSF/EPO biocomposite, the results obtained were 195.89 kg CO2 equiv. GWP and 0.57 kg SO2 equiv. AP. The GWP and AP were contributed by the electricity used in the fabrication of biocomposites. These impacts were due to the usage of electricity, which contributed to the emission of CO2. However, the PLA/DSF/EPO biocomposite had lower negative impacts because EPO improved the workability and processability of the biocomposite, and hence, reduced the amount of energy required for production. It can be concluded that the plasticized PLA/DSF biocomposite can be a potential biodegradable food packaging material as it has favourable properties and produces no waste. ABSTRAK: Biopolimer adalah terbaik dalam usaha mengganti polimer berasaskan-petroleum dalam mengurang masalah pencemaran-sisa. Ini kerana biopolimer boleh diperbaharui, biodegradasi dan sangat maju secara komersial. Inisiatif telah diambil dengan menghasilkan sabut kulit durian (DSF) bersama biokomposit asid polilaktik (PLA) dengan penambahan minyak kelapa sawit terepoksi (EPO). Biokomposit PLA/DSF direka melalui kaedah pemyemperitan dan acuan suntikan. Biokomposit ini dipantau kitar hidupnya dengan membina sistem sempadan berkaitan proses rekaan menggunakan perisian GaBi. Pengawasan kitar hidup (LCA) biokomposit PLA/DSF menunjukkan potensi pemanasan global (GWP) dan potensi pengasidan (AP) menyebabkan impak terbesar komposit PLA/DSF. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan 199.37 kg CO2 bagi GWP dan 0.58 kg SO2 bagi AP bagi biokomposit PLA/DSF. Sementara itu, dapatan kajian bagi biokomposit PLA/DSF/EPO adalah 195.89 kg CO2 bagi GWP dan 0.57 kg SO2 bagi AP. Kedua-dua GWP dan AP adalah disebabkan oleh penggunaan elektrik dalam proses pembuatan biokomposit. Ini adalah kesan daripada penggunaan elektrik, dan menyumbang kepada pembebasan CO2. Walau bagaimanapun, biokomposit PLA/DSF/EPO mempunyai kurang kesan negatif, kerana EPO telah menambah baik kebolehkerjaan dan kebolehprosesan biokomposit, menyebabkan kurang tenaga yang diperlukan dalam proses pembuatan. Kesimpulannya plastik biokomposit PLA/DSF berpotensi sebagai bahan biodegradasi bagi pembungkus makanan kerana ianya mempunyai ciri-ciri yang diperlukan dan tidak menghasilkan sisa buangan.

Fourier-Transform Infra Red (FTIR) Analysis of UV Curing Biobased-Polyurethane from Epoxidized Palm Oil Using Acrylation and Thiols Addition

This study is conducted to synthesis bio-polyurethane from epoxidized palm oil (EPO). Palm oil-based polyurethane was synthesized by the acrylation process followed by thiols addition. The resulting oligomers were then reacted with isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) and dibutylin dilaurate (DBTDL) to form Thiolated Acrylated Epoxidized Palm Oil Urethane (t-AEPOU). t-AEPOU was then reacted under UV photoirradiation for further reaction and to pre-determine its curing activities. The polymerization of AEPO and t-AEPOU were confirms by using Attenuated Total Reflection - Fourier-Transform Infra Red (ATR-FTIR). This study affords new approach in synthesis of Palm Oil bio-based Polyurethane Coating.

Preparation and Characterization of Starch/Empty Fruit Bunch-Based Bioplastic Composites Reinforced with Epoxidized Oils

This study examined the development of starch/oil palm empty fruit bunch-based bioplastic composites reinforced with either epoxidized palm oil (EPO) or epoxidized soybean oil (ESO), at various concentrations, in order to improve the mechanical and water-resistance properties of the bio-composites. The SEM micrographs showed that low content (0.75 wt%) of epoxidized oils (EOs), especially ESO, improved the compatibility of the composites, while high content (3 wt%) of EO induced many voids. The melting temperature of the composites was increased by the incorporation of both EOs. Thermal stability of the bioplastics was increased by the introduction of ESO. Low contents of EO led to a huge enhancement of tensile strength, while higher contents of EO showed a negative effect, due to the phase separation. The tensile strength increased from 0.83 MPa of the control sample to 3.92 and 5.42 MPa for the composites with 1.5 wt% EPO and 0.75 wt% ESO, respectively. EOs reduced the composites’ water uptake and solubility but increased the water vapor permeability. Overall, the reinforcing effect of ESO was better than EPO. These results suggested that both EOs can be utilized as modifiers to prepare starch/empty-fruit-bunch-based bioplastic composites with enhanced properties.

Mechanical Properties of Graphite Filled Unsaturated Polyester and Unsaturated Polyester/Palm Oil Blend Resin

This research aim to investigate the effect of graphite loadings in unsaturated polyester (UPE) / acrylated epoxidized palm oil (AEPO) blend resin. The modification of epoxidized palm oil (EPO) to AEPO was carried out using acrylation process and further blended with synthetic UPE resin. Graphite powder was added at 0.03, 0.05 and 0.1 phr into the UPE/AEPO blend resin and cured in an oven at 100 °C and 160 °C. FTIR spectrums showed the disappearance of oxirane ring and existence of carbon double bond indicating successful of AEPO synthesis process. Tensile and Izod impact test revealed that, graphite showed different effects to neat UPE and UPE/AEPO blend resin. In neat UPE, graphite significantly improved the stiffness properties at 0.1 phr additions. However in UPE/AEPO blend resin, the toughness properties were improved with increased graphite loadings.

SILICA-REINFORCED NATURAL RUBBER TIRE TREAD COMPOUNDS CONTAINING BIO-BASED PROCESS OILS. II: INFLUENCE OF EPOXIDE AND AMINO FUNCTIONAL GROUPS

ABSTRACT The feasibility of the use of epoxidized palm oil (EPO) and amine-modified epoxidized palm oil (mEPO) as process oils in silica-reinforced natural rubber compounds is studied. The chemical structures of EPO and mEPO are characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-NMR). Amine modification for 3 and 5 h leads to mEPOs with 0.03 and 0.04 mmol of amine in 1 g of oil, referred to as 0.03 mEPO and 0.04 mEPO, respectively. The properties of rubber compounds containing modified palm oils are investigated by taking those with TDAE oil and those without oil as references. The use of process oils clearly enhances the processibility (i.e., lower mixing torque and complex viscosity) and mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties of the rubber compounds as compared with compounds without oil. The rubber compounds with EPO and 0.03 mEPO show a lower Payne effect (i.e., less filler–filler interaction) than the rubber compound with TDAE because of the shielding effect of the oils on the silica surface. The use of mEPO boosts the vulcanization reaction, resulting in much better cure torque difference, which indicates a higher crosslink density due to the amino groups present in mEPO as compared with TDAE. Therefore, rubber compounds with mEPOs have better mechanical properties (i.e., reinforcement index, tensile strength, and elongation at break) and better elastic response under dynamic deformation, as indicated by a lower loss tangent at 60 °C as compared with the mix with TDAE.