The objective of this study was to determine the effect of chemical treatment on the coconut fiber surface morphology. This study is divided into three stages, preparation of materials, treatment and testing of coconut fiber. The first treatment is coconut fiber soaked in a solution of NaOH for 3 hours with concentration, respectively 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%. The second treatment is coconut fiber soaked in KMnO 4 solution with a concentration of 0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75%, and 1% for 3 hours. The third treatment is coconut fiber is soaked in H 2 O 2 solution with a concentration of 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% for 3 hours. At each treatment the fiber is dried in an oven at a temperature of 90 o C for 5 hours. Coconut fibers that had been the first, second, and third treated, sorted out for chemical composition, single fiber tensile and SEM testing. Tensile strength of single coconut fiber was tested following ASTM 3379-02 by using a tensile testing LR10K Plus 10 kN Universal Materials Testing Machine. The fiber surface morphology was examined using electron microscopy Vega3 Tescan Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) at 5kV voltage, and X-ray diffraction, 30 kV, 15 mA, at scan speed 2.000 deg./min . The result shows that the highest tensile strength of the fiber obtained in the first treatment namely N4. In general the mechanical strength of the fiber decrease slightly however, the fiber surface morphology becomes rough. NaOH treatments cause crystallization on the surface of the fiber. Crystallinity index was decreased with increasing concentration of NaOH. The second treatment caused the trench grooves on the surface of the fiber that can improve bonding between fiber and matrix.

Palm fibers were immersed in sea water for 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks prior to application as reinforcement of green biocomposite. Instead of common resin matrix, natural sago starch was applied as the matrix compound. The immersion treatments had significantly affected fibers surface morphology and interfacial bonds of fiber and the matrix as observed through Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The quality of interfacial bonds became higher by additional duration of the sea water immersion. The best interlocking surfaces of fibers and matrix appeared in the composite with 4-week immersed fibers, indicated by disappearance of gaps between fiber and matrix. The morphology of fibers surface interlocking process was clearly seen during the duration of immersion.

This study investigated the ambient environmental temperature effect on the positioning accuracy of a periodically-moving carrier. The moving carrier was operated in an environmental chamber in which the operational temperature could be controlled by an air conditioning system. Different operational temperature modes, including a stable environment, a rise in temperature, a decline in temperature, summer daytime hours, and winter nighttime hours in terms of seasonal climate change in Taiwan, were generated within the environmental chamber by an air conditioning system to investigate the operational temperature's effect on positioning accuracy. From the experimental measurements of a periodically-moving carrier, it is found that the operational temperature conditions can significantly affect the positioning accuracy of the moving carrier, especially in the case of an operational temperature decline. Under stable operational conditions, the positioning accuracy of the moving carrier can be considerably improved. In comparison to the case of an operational temperature decline, the positioning accuracy improvement can reach 29.6%. Moreover, the effect of the temperature distributions within the chamber on the positioning accuracy was further investigated. It was found that, with a parallel flow pattern in the chamber, the positioning accuracy can be further enhanced.

Purpose: This paper proposes a new model for further research on how to select criteria in supplier selection, through a literature review and analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of previously used methods.Design/methodology/approach: The methods used to select criteria in supplier selection were extracted from various online academic databases.  The weaknesses and advantages of these methods were then analyzed. Based on these findings, several opportunities for improvement are proposed for further research. Finally, criteria design methods for the selection of suppliers are proposed using statistical multi-criteria decision making (S-MCDM) methods.Findings: Direction and guidance for subsequent research to select the criteria used in supplier selection, based on the advantages and disadvantages of the decision methods used.Research limitations/implications: Limitations of this study are that it is focused on the methods of criteria design in supplier selection.Practical implications: This study can provide a research direction on the selection of criteria for supplier selection.Social implications: This study provides ongoing guidance and avenues for further research.Originality/value: New ideas for working out the developmental strategy for criteria selection are provided by statistical MCDM methods in supplier selection.

Effects of sea water immersion for palm fiber in relation to surface morphology, roughness and bonding between the fiber and sago matrix were observed. Duration of immersion varied in 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks, and then dried at room temperature for 3 hours continued by oven at 80 °C for 6 hours. SEM and roughness arithmetic tests were applied to see surface morphology, roughness and bonding between fiber and the matrix. Result shows fiber morphology and roughness varies by the duration of immersion. The surface roughness increases as immersion continues along with fiber - matrix bonding improvement. The maximum duration of 4 weeks fiber immersion resulted in the best interlocking of matrix and fibers, as the slits between them disappear.