Oleic Acid-based Polyurethane and its Biocomposites with Oil Palm Trunk Fiber Dust

Abstract

The main objectives of the present research are (i) to obtain a monoglyceride from oleic acid through a direct esterification process, (ii) utilization of the obtained monoglycerides to prepare polyurethane (PU) sheet, and (iii) the preparation of a series of biocomposites using prepared PU and different amounts of oil palm trunk (OPT) fiber dust. The tensile strength of OPT fiber dust incorporated PU biocomposites is found to be increased with the increase in the OPT fiber dust content up to 20% in the composites. The tensile strengths of PU and its biocomposites with 20% OPT fiber dust were 0.6 and 2.15 MPa, respectively. The thermal properties of PU and its biocomposites having varied amounts of OPT fiber dust of 0—40% have been investigated using dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA) and thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA). TGA studies revealed that PU and its biocomposites have undergone two- and three-step degradation, respectively. From DMA studies, a shift in the tan δ value was noticed for the biocomposites containing 30 and 40% OPT fiber dust. The morphology of the tensile fractured composite specimens was analyzed using scanning electron microscope.

Rigid polyurethane foams obtained from tall oil and filled with natural fibers: Application as a support for immobilization of lignin-degrading microorganisms

“…The properties of NFs are affected by many factors, such as variety, climate, harvest, maturity, degree of retting, etc. 16 There are investigations on PU resins filled with different fibers-sisal fibers 17 and oil palm trunk fiber dust, 18 but not so much on PUR-wood flour, 9 wood and hemp fibers, 19 cellulose fibers, 20 and flax fibers. 21 Among the large number of applications of PUR, their use in the biotechnological field as a support for the immobilization of enzymes and whole cells has recently emerged.…”

Synthesis and characterization of green urethane non‐isocyanate from oleic acid for wood composite application

“…Urethane derived from oleic acid has numerous applications in wood‐based composites. Yaakob et al 28 prepared oleic acid‐based PUs and used oil palm trunk fiber dust as a filler for the PU biocomposite to improve its tensile strength. In addition, polyols based on oleic acid were prepared from oleic acid and were used to fabricate PU foams 29 .…”