Mechanical Properties of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch Fibers-Cast Alloy Composite Using Three Point Bending Test

Abstract

This paper presents the mechanical properties of oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) fiber/epoxy resin reinforced cast LM6 (aluminum based) alloy composites. The metal matrix composite was fabricated by incorporating OPEFB/epoxy resin using mono filaments concept in the as cast LM6 alloys. Three different diameters (10, 12 and 14 mm) of the maximum force of metal matrix composite materials along with controlled sample (cast LM6 alloy + OPEFB/epoxy resin) were determined from three point bend testing. Test results showed that maximum force of mixture between OPEFB fibers composite and cast LM6 alloy for metal matrix composite are higher than that of cast LM6 alloy. Thus the utilization of OPEFB/epoxy composite as mono filaments in metal matrix composite can be significant in improving the strength of the cast LM6 alloy. Beside that increasing the diameter size of OPEFB/epoxy composite will reduce the weight of metal matrix composite (cast LM6 + OPEFB/epoxy composite).