LIGNOCELLULOSICS FIBRE REINFORCED POLYESTER COMPOSITES: THE STUDY ON VARIOUS TREATMENTS ON MECHANICAL AND BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

摘要

Non-woven lignocellulosic fibres (oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB), bamboo fibres and pineapple leaf fibres) reinforced thermoset composites were fabricated at different fibre weight fraction i.e. 5%, 15%, 25%, 35% and 45% (w/w). The polyester resin (unsaturated) and MEKP as catalyst were used. The mechanical (tensile and impact properties) and biological properties of the composites were analyzed with and without fibre treatments (control untreated, acetylation, prepreg ABS and silane). In general, as increased the weight fraction in matrix, the composite properties increased from 5% to 45%. The mechanical properties followed the order: bamboo (highest) > pineapple > EFB (lowest). Fibres treatments with ABS exhibited the highest mechanical strength before and after biological exposure up to 12 months ageing in soil burial tests of composites followed by acetic anhydride, silane and untreated fibres composites. However, the value was still lower as compared to the glass fibre composites.