Fibre-Plastic Composites: Oil Palm Frond and Rubberwood Fibres Blended with Polypropylene
Natural lignocellulosic fibres have become more important nowadays because "new" types of composite material can be produced from them. The objectives of this study are to evaluate the suitability of producing fibrepolypropylene composite using oil palm frond fibre and rubberwood fibre....
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English English |
| Published: |
1998
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/9958/1/FH_1998_6_A.pdf |
| Summary: | Natural lignocellulosic fibres have become more important nowadays
because "new" types of composite material can be produced from them. The objectives of this study are to evaluate the suitability of producing fibrepolypropylene
composite using oil palm frond fibre and rubberwood fibre. The
effects of different fibre size and fibre content on the physical and mechanical
properties of the composite produced are assessed to give an insight into fibrematrix
adhesion and fibre damages.
In this study, crude fibres of oil palm fronds were atmospherically refined
into fine fibres whilst rubberwood fibres were obtained from a local fibreboard
plant. These fibres were later screened into different sizes: < 0.5 mm, 0.5 - 1 mm, 1
- 2 mm and > 2 mm. The screened fibres were melt-blended with polypropylene at
different ratios in a Brabender Plasti-Corder equipped with a mixer of type W 350 E
- 2 Heating Zones. The mixing condition was set at a rotor speed of 30 rpm at
180°C for 30 minutes. Moulded composites were prepared for evaluation of tensile,
flexural, IZOD impact resistance - notched and ROCKWELL hardness according to
ASTM standards. |
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