Influence of Alkali Treatment and Fibre Content on the Properties of Oil Palm Press Fibre Reinforced Epoxy Biocomposites

摘要

In the present wo rk, oil palm press fibre reinforced epoxy composites were developed. The effect of fibre loading varying from 5 wt. % to 30 wt. % on the mechanical properties of oil palm press fibre/epoxy composite was studied. The effect of alkali treatment on mechanical properties of the composites was also investigated. The mechanical properties of treated OPPF/epoxy composites were found to be higher that the untreated oil palm press fibres. Optimum tensile, flexural and impact strengths of OPPF/epoxy composites were obtained at fibre content of 20 wt. % in this work. Hardness, tensile strength and mod ulus of the composites increased with increasing fibre loading. Alkali-treated OPPF/epoxy composites when compared with untreated OPP fibres at 20 wt.% fibre loading showed an increase o f tensile strength b y 18.79 %, flexural strength by 15.15 % and impact strength b y 18.21 %. The removal of hemicelluloses and other impurities with alkali treatment resulting to higher crystallinity of the OPPF could be responsible for these observations.