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The influence of untreated and treated OPEFB content on the mechanical properties of acrylic impact-modified PVC was investigated. The formulations were first dry blended before being milled into sheets on a two-roll mill. Test specimens were then hot pressed. The modulus significantly increased while the impact and flexural strength insignificantly improved with increasing of treated OPEFB contents. The reduction in water absorption, the formation of new absorption bands and the slight number of treated fiber pulled-out proved that there was an interaction between fiber and matrix. However, this interaction was insufficient to enhance the impact and flexural strength significantly.

Awareness of the advantages of natural fibres has stimulated interest in their use to reinforce polymers. One type of natural fibre that is of great relevance to Malaysia is oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB). To produce EFB-filled unplasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) composites, PVC resin and the various additives were first dry-blended using a laboratory blender before being milled into sheets on a two-roll mill. Test specimens were then hot pressed, after which the mechanical and thermal properties were determined. Four untreated EFB fibre contents were employed, 10, 20, 30 and 40 phr. The increase in EFB fibre content resulted in an improvement in flexural modulus at the expense of impact strength and flexural strength. The incorporation of EFB slightly enhanced the glass transition temperature but it decreased the thermal stability of the composites, evidenced by a decrease in decomposition temperature and a change in the degradation process from two to three stages.

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The influence of extrusion processing temperature profiles on the mechanical properties of oil palm empty fruit bunch-filled poly(vinyl chloride) extrudates was investigated. Only the poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), acrylic and chlorinated polyethylene extrudates filled with 10 phr oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) were able to be extruded successfully as the extrusion processing temperature profiles increased. The extrudates containing 20 phr OPEFB were severely distorted even though the processing temperature was increased to the maximum level. The impact strength, flexural modulus and strength, and yield stress and strain at break of extrudates filled with 10 phr OPEFB were insignificantly affected by the increase of extrusion processing temperature and fusion level of PVC.