No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

The objective of this present work was to the preparation of polymer composite from low grade natural rubber (LNR), cassava starch (CSt) and palm fiber by using two-roll mill and then compression molding. The surface of palm fiber with different palm fiber lengths was analyzed by SEM. The tensile strength of the LNR/CSt composite containing 10% palm fiber with <425 µm fiber length was improved by addition of the 0.5 phr K2S2O8. After addition of K2S2O8, the swelling ratio in toluene of this composite was dramatically decreased. This is due to higher interaction between polymer matrix and fiber. The highest tensile strength and lowest swelling ratio in toluene of this composite was obtained with using palm fiber of < 425 µm in length.

Polyol was successfully synthesized from used palm oil (UPO) via epoxidation and ring opening reaction. The mole ratio of UPO: formic acid: hydrogen peroxide was 0.3: 8: 1.5. The reaction had been continuously stirred at 400 rpm at 65°C with varied reaction time for 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 4.0 h. The chemical structure of modified used palm oil (MUPO) or polyol was confirmed by 1H-NMR. OH number of polyols increased with an increase reaction time. Moreover, the preliminary study for the preparation of MUPO-based polyurethane (PU) foam was performed. A new MUPO-based PU foam was successfully prepared and theirs foam behaviors were investigated.