Effects of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch (OPEFB) Fibre Size on Fracture Toughness of OPEFB Filled Polymer Nanocomposite

Abstract

The effect of oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) fiber size on the fracture toughness of OPEFB/PP/PPnanoclay composites was investigated. Four fiber sizes ranging from 180 μm, 250 μm, 300 μm, and 355 μm were used to reinforce PP/PPnanoclay composites. The ratio of PP/PPnanoclay was 7:100 by weight (7 phr). Fracture toughness of the composite was determined according to ASTM D5045 and single edge notch bending (SENB) been employed during the test. The result indicates that the fracture toughness of OPEFB/PP/PPnanoclay composites has decreased as OPEFB fiber size increased. Fracture surfaces investigated through the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the bonding between fiber and matrix for OPEFB/PP/PPnanoclay composites with smaller OPEFB fibre size has better bonding as compared to OPEFB/PP/PPnanoclay composites with larger OPEFB fiber size.

Synergistic sequential oxidative extraction for nanofibrillated cellulose isolated from oil palm empty fruit bunch

“…So far, OPEFB fiber has been exploited to be used as biodegradable reinforcing thermoplastics and thermosets substance [ 10 ], composite polymer to produce micro-perforated panels, particle board, fibers board [ 11 ], and thermal insulation panel [ 7 ]. The OPEFB cellulosic biomass fiber is creating a revolution as it can be found in various sizes classified as macroscopic, microfibril, nanofibril, and nanocrystal cellulose, depending on the extraction technique [ 12 , 13 ].…”