RESEARCH ARTICLE

Journal of Oil Palm Research Vol. 18 December 2006, p. 260-271

OIL PALM EMPTY FRUIT BUNCH-POLYPROPYLENE COMPOSITES: THE EFFECT MALEATED POLYPROPYLENE ON THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES

MOHAMAD JANI, S* ; ROZMAN, H D** ; ABUSAMAH, A** ; MOHD ISHAK, Z A + ; RAHIM, S*

ABSTRACT

The production of oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) fibre–polypropylene (PP) composites with treated and non-treated maleated polypropylene (MAPP) was studied. Commercial MAPP (Epolene 43) and MAPP samples synthesized at the laboratory were used to determine MAPP’s effectiveness as a coupling agent for EFB fibre-composites. Several analyses on MAPP-treated composites were carried out including FTIR spectra, acid number and Gd tests to determine the action of the anhydride. The flexural and impact properties of the treated composite samples produced in the laboratory using both Epolene 43 and MAPP samples produced at laboratory were significantly better than those of the untreated composites.

KEYWORDS: , , , ,


* Wood Composites Unit,
Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM),
Kepong, 52109 Selangor, Malaysia.
E-mail: jani@frim.gov.my

** School of Industrial Technology,
Universiti Sains Malaysia,
11800 Minden, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.

+ School of Material and Mineral Resources Engineering,
Engineering Campus,
Universiti Sains Malaysia,
14300 Nibong Tebal, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.