MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF HYBRID POLYPROPYLENE

COMPOSITE REINFORCED WITH COIR AND OIL PALM

Brian Anak Deng

Bachelor of Engineering with Honors

(Mechanical Engineering and Manufacturing System)

2009

Faculty of Engineering

UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA SARAWAK

BORANG PENGESAHAN STATUS TESIS

Judul: MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF HYBRID POLYPROPYLENE COMPOSITE

REINFORCED WITH OIL PALM AND COIR FIBER

SESI PENGAJIAN : 2008/2009

Saya, BRIAN ANAK DENG

(HURUF BESAR)

mengaku membenarkan tesis * ini disimpan di Pusat Khidmat Maklumat Akademik, Universiti

Malaysia Sarawak dengan syarat-syarat kegunaan seperti berikut:

1. Tesis adalah hakmilik Universiti Malaysia Sarawak.

2. Pusat Khidmat Maklumat Akademik, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak dibenarkan membuat salinan

untuk tujuan pengajian sahaja.

3. Membuat pendigitan untuk membanguankan Pangkalan Data Kandungan Tempatan.

4. Pusat Khidmat Maklumat Akademik, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak dibenarkan membuat salinan

tesis ini sebagai bahan pertukaran antara institusi pengajian tinggi.

5. ** Sila tandakan (√) di kotak yang berkenaan.

SULIT (Mengandungi maklumat yand berdarjah keselamatan atau kepentingan Malaysia

seperti yang termaktub di dalam AKTA RAHSIA RASMI 1972).

TERHAD (Mengandungi maklumat TERHAD yang telah ditentukan oleh organisasi/badan di

mana penyelidikan dijalankan).

TIDAK TERHAD

Disahkan oleh

_________________________ ___________________________ (TANDATANGAN PENULIS) (TANDATANGAN PENYELIA)

Alamat tetap: No 236, Greenwood Park PUAN MAHSURI YUSOF

Batu 9 ½ ,Jalan Penrissen, Nama Penyelia

93250 , Kuching, Sarawak.

Tarikh: ____________________ Tarikh: ____________________

CATATAN * Tesis dimaksudkan sebagai tesis bagi Ijazah Doktor Falsafah, Sarjana dan Sarjana Muda

** Jika tesis ini SULIT dan TERHAD, sila lampirkan surat daripada pihak berkuasa/organisasi

berkenaan dengan menyatakan sekali sebab dan tempoh tesis ini perlu dikelaskan sebagai

SULIT dan TERHAD.

Perakuan Penyelia

Laporan Projek Tahun Akhir berikut:

Tajuk: MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF HYBRID POLYPROPYLENE COMPOSITE

REINFORCED WITH OIL PALM AND COIR FIBER

Nama Penulis: Brian Anak Deng

Matrix: 13821

telah dibaca dan disahkan oleh:

_______________________________________ ________________

PUAN MAHSURI YUSOF SSOC. PROF IR. DR. ANDR Tarikh

(Supervisor)

MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF HYBRID POLYPROPYLENE

COMPOSITE REINFORCED WITH OIL PALM AND COIR FIBER

BRIAN ANAK DENG

A dissertation submitted to

Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the

Bachelor Degree of Engineering with Honours

(Mechanical and Manufacturing System)

2009

iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First, I thank my advisor Puan Mahsuri Yusof, for her continuous support in this

Final Year Project program. Puan Mahsuri Yusof was always there to listen and to give

advice. She taught me a lot of information about plasma modeling. She showed me

different ways to approach a research problem and the need to be persistent to accomplish

any goal. I am also wants to thank to my previous supervisor Dr. Mahbub Hassan for the

support in this final year project. He is responsible for involving me in this Final Year

Project.

Last, but not least, I thank to my family: my parents, for giving me life in the first

place, for educating me with aspects in this Engineering Field, for unconditional support

and encouragement to pursue my interests, even when the interests went beyond

boundaries of language, field and geography.

vi

CONTENT PAGES

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iii

ABSTRACT iv

ABSTRAK v

TABLE OF CONTENTS vi

LIST OF FIGURES ix

LIST OF TABLES xi

LIST OF NOMENCLATURES xii

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Overview 1

1.2 Hybrid composite reinforced with coir and oil palm EBF fiber 3

1.3 Scopes and objectives 4

CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Natural fiber usage 5

2.2 Polypropylene 7

2.2.1 Physical properties of polypropylene 8

2.2.2 Chemical properties of polypropylene 11

2.2.3 Structure of polypropylene 12

2.3 Definition and structures of coir 14

2.3.1 Chemical and physical properties of coir 16

2.4 Oil palm empty fruit bunch Fiber 18

vii

2.4.1 Morphology and Chemical Constituent of Oil Palm EBF 19

2.5 Composite 20

2.5.1 EBF fiber and coir fiber as a hybrid reinforce Composite 22

2.5.2 Matrix 22

2.5.3 Filler (Fiber) and Matrix Interface 23

2.6 Chemical Treatment 24

2.7 Water sorption 25

CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY

3.1 Introduction 27

3.2 Material 27

3.2.1 Fabrication of fiber from oil palm EBF 28

3.2.2 Fabrication of coir 28

3.2.3 Chemical treatment to coir and oil palm EBF fiber 29

3.2.4 Fabrication of coir and oil palm hybrid composite 30

3.3 Mechanical test 33

3.3.1 Tensile test 33

3.3.2 Three point flexural test 34

3.3.3 Water Absorption test for the composite 37

viii

CHAPTER 4 RESULT AND DISCUSSION

4.1 Flexural Strength Properties 39

4.2 Tensile Properties 42

4.3 Water Absorption Properties 44

4.4 Modulus of Elasticity in Bending 46

CHAPTER 5 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 Conclusion 49

5.2 Recommendations 51

REFERENCES 52

APPENDICES 59

ix

LIST OF FIGURES

FIGURE PAGES

2.1 Polypropylene granules [12] 9

2.2 Commercial manufactured Polypropylene [12] 9

2.3 Polymerization of polypropylene [15] 14

2.4 Segregation of coir fiber [17] 15

2.5 Bristle coir fiber [17] 15

2.6 Oil Palm tree ( left), Empty Fruit Bunch(center),oil palm EBF fiber 18

(right)[18]

2.7 Schematic representation of water sorption mechanism at cross-section of 26

oil palm fiber reinforced PF composites [32].

3.1 Mold for the making of composite 32

3.2 Hot Press Machine 32

3.3 Dimension of Tensile Test specimen 34

3.4 Setup of three point flexural test and dimension of specimen 36

3.5 AG-IS 300kN Shidmadzu 36

3.6 Oven-force air convertion modeled PIZVSD 38

x

4.1 Flexural strength of untreated and treated fiber (coconut coir and

oil palm fibres) polypropylene matrix composite. 40

4.2 Ultimate tensile strength of untreated and treated fiber (coconut coir

and oil palm) polypropylene matrix composite. 42

4.3 Water absorption percentage of untreated and treated fiber (coconut coir

and oil palm) polypropylene matrix composite 45

4.4 Modulus of elasticity of untreated and treated fiber (coconut coir

and oil palm) polypropylene matrix composite 48

xi

LIST OF TABLES

TABLE PAGES

2.1 Physical properties of polypropylene (PPP) [12] 10

2.2 Chemical composition of coir [5] 17

2.3 Physical properties of coir fiber [5] 17

2.4 Fiber properties [18] 19

2.5 Chemical constituent of oil palm EBF [18] 20

3.1 Detailed weight% of composite produce (applied for treated fiber and 31

untreated fiber)

xii

LIST OF NOMENCLATURES

EFB - Empty Fruit Bunch

FFB - Fresh Fruit Bunch

ASTM - American Society for Testing and Materials

PP - Polypropylene

LDPE - Low density polyethylene

HDPE - High density polyethylene

ABS - Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene

MFR - Melt Flow Rate

MFI - Melt Flow Index

OPT - Oil palm trunk

OPF - Oil palm fond

MAPP - Maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene

SEM - Scanning Electron Microscopy

Psi - Pressure per square inches

σUT - Ultimate tensile strength

W - Breaking load

AT - Cross sectional area

σfM - Flexural strength

EB - Modulus of elasticity

iv

ABSTRACT

The study shows the reinforcement of natural fiber that is oil palm and coir to

polypropylene composite. The main objectives of the project are to achieve the good

combination of properties of hybrid oil palm EBF and coir as filler reinforced in

polypropylene composite. The hybrid composite having polypropylene reinforced with

coir and oil palm EBF fiber will give different result in mechanical properties of the

composites compared to the coir or oil palm EBF fiber as filler as single filler in

polypropylene composite. Thus in this study the effect of combine the coir and oil palm

EFB to polypropylene matrix composite on the mechanical properties was investigated.

In this study, the fiber loading is varies from 10%, 15%, 20%, 25% and 30% incorporated

to the composite. The test is carried out to find the mechanical properties of the

composite. The test that conducted was tensile test, flexural test and water absorption test.

The test also carried in two state of fiber that is untreated fiber and treated fiber. The

coupling agent used in this study is sodium periodate (NaIO4) and sodium hydroxyl

(NaOH). The test show that the addition of fiber loading to composite did not improve

the tensile strength of composite for treated or untreated fiber. For flexural test the

addition of untreated fiber to composite did not improve the flexural properties but for

treated fiber the additional of fiber to composite improve it flexural strength. The water

absorption test revealed that additional of untreated fiber improved water absorption but

additional of treated fiber did not improved water absorption characteristic.

v

ABSTRAK

Kajian yang dijalankan menunjukkan pengunaan gentian semula jadi iaitu gentian kelapa

sawit dan gentian kelapa ke atas komposit polypropylene. Ojektif utama kajian adalah

untuk mendapatkan kombinasi sifat terbaik komposit hybrid polypropylene yang

diperkuatkan dengan gentian buah kelapa sawit dan kelapa. Komposit polypropylene

kacukan yang diperkuatkan dengan gentian buah kelapa sawit dan kelapa akan

menunjukkan sifat mekanikal yang berbeza jika dibandingkan dengan komposit yang

diperkuatkan dengan hanya satu gentian sahaja. Maka, kesan penggunaan gentian semula

jadi secara serentak terhadap komposit dan sifat mekanikal komposit tersebut akan dikaji.

Di dalam kajian ini nisbah gentian yang digunakan ke atas komposit adalah dari

10%,15%,20%,25% dan 30% dari jumlah jisim komposit tersebut.Ujian mekanikal telah

dijalankan terhadap spesimen tersebut dan ujian tesebut menurut ASTM.Ujian mekanikal

yang dijalankan merangkumi ujian regangan, kelenturan dan penyerapan air.Ujian

mekanikal yang dijalankan mengunakan gentian dalam dua keadaan yang berbeza iaitu

gentian tidak terubahsuai dan gentian terubahsuai. Agen pengabung yang digunakan

untuk gentian terubahusai ialah natrium hidroksida(NaOH) dan natrium

peroksida(NaIO4). Ujian yang dijalankan menunjukkan penambahan gentian terhadap

komposit tidak meningkatkan sifat regangan komposit tersebut untuk kedua-dua keadaan

gentian.Bagi ujian kelenturan pula menunjukkan penambahan gentian tidak terubahsuai

tidak meningkatkan sifat kelenturan tetapi bagi gentian terubahsuai, penambahan gentian

terhadap komposit meningkatkan sifat kelenturan. Ujian penyerapan air menunjukkan

penambahan gentian tidak terubahsuai ke atas komposit meningkatkan sifat penyerapan

air tetapi tidak bagi gentian terubahsuai.

MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF

HYBRID POLYPROPYLENE

COMPOSITE REINFORCED WITH COIR

AND OIL PALM

Name: Brian Deng

Supervisor: Mahsuri Yusof

INTRODUCTION

Manufacturers, designers, and engineers recognize

the ability of composite materials to produce high-

quality, durable, cost-effective products. Additionally,

composites are used in many critical industrial,

aerospace, and military applications. In a market place

where demands for product performance are ever

increasing, composite materials have proven to be

effective in reducing costs and improving performance.

Composites solve problems, raise performance levels,

and enable the development of many new products [1].

The use of cheap agro-based renewable natural

lingo-cellulosic fibers such as jute, sisal, coir, EFB etc.

in-preparing composites with various thermoplastic and

thermosetting resins has gained much momentum in the

recent years [2]. Extensive research has been carried out

on the agro fiber plastic composites which have been

reported by a number of workers [3]. This is due to their

low cost, easy availability, nonabrasive nature, low

density, high specific properties and biodegradable

characteristics. A broad range of agro based fibers is

being utilized as the main structural components or as

filler agents in these composite materials [2].

In this study the use of EBF oil palm and coir in

polypropylene matrix will be study. The hybrid

composite having polypropylene reinforced with coir

and oil palm EBF fiber will give different result in

mechanical properties of the composites compared to the

coir or oil palm EBF fiber as filler as single filler in

polypropylene composite. This lead towards an

understand the new properties of hybrid polypropylene

composite which could make coir and oil palm EBF

waste became more useful to the industries.

The main objective of this study is to investigate the

effect of applying chemical treatment on the fiber and

the effect of the combination of oil palm EFB and coir as

filler reinforced in polypropylene composite.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

Materials

The oil Palm EBF is collected from Rimbunan Hijau

Sdn.Bhd, Lundu, Sarawak and supplied to us is from

Lundu Oil Palm Plantations. The oil palm supplied is

still in raw condition.The coir is bought from the local

Agriculture, Hosticulture and forestry supplies center,

Garden Friend located at Pearse Road, Kuching. The coir

supplied is already separated from husk of the coconut

and in fibrous form. For the matrix, Polypropylene is

supplied by Robert Scientific Private Limited.

Fabrication of fiber from oil palm EBF and coir

The EBF is soaked into the water for a period of

two months. This is done to allow the fibrous part of the

EBF to be easily to extracted and cut to the pieces from

the outer shell of EBF. The fiber is then dried under

sunlight. After the sun drying process, the fiber is oven

dry using an oven-force air conversion oven modeled

PIZVSD for one hour long under a temperature of 65 0C.The fiber will be separated into two parts that is

untreated fiber and chemically treated fiber. After the

process, both the treated or untreated fiber is cut into

small pieces having the length of approximately 3 to

5mm.The same process repeated for coir except the coir

is not soaked for two months.

Chemical treatment to coir and oil palm EBF

fiber

The oxidizing agent sodium periodate (reagent

grade) was used. The coupling agents used in this study

was reagent grade urea, commercial grade urotropine

and maleic acid. The chemical used in this study are

sodium periodate (NaIO4), urea [CO (NH2)2, formic acid

(HCOOH), sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and sodium hydroxide

(NaOH).

Fabrication of coir and oil palm hybrid

composite

The composites are produced using five different

weight percentages that is 10%, 15%, 20%, 25% and

30% (Table 1).The weight percentage is applied to both

untreated fiber (coir and oil palm) and treated fiber. The

dimension of the composite that is produced is 300mm X

300mm in length and width respectively. The total

carried out mass of the composite is 300gram. The

machine that is to be used in the synthesized of the

composite is Hot Press Machine. The pressure,

temperature and heating time of the samples were

controlled at the same rate to prepare all composite. Initially the 1000 psi pressure is applied to press down

the granulated polypropylene and reinforced material.

Then the pressure is let down to be 500 psi for the

heating process. The heating process took one hour and

the mould let to be cooled by 30 minutes before the

mould was opened to remove the finished specimens.

Mechanical Testing

Three important mechanical properties namely tensile,

flexural or bending and water absorption were tested. All

test specimen dimensions were according to the

respective ASTM standards. Five specimens of each

composition are tested and the average values are

reported.

Tensile test

The tensile test is performed following ASTM D 638-10

and every single test is performed till tensile failure

occurs. . All tensile test specimens were cut into dog-

bone shape. The static tensile test is carried out using an

universal machine AG-IS 300kN Shidmadzu.

Three point flexural test

The static flexural test of composites was carried out

using the same machine that mentioned above only by

changing the attachment. Flexural test were conducted

following ASTM D 790-00.

Water Absorption test for the composite

The tests are conducted according to the ASTM

procedure D570-99. The specimens were dried in oven

at 1050C for 2 hours, cooled in a desiccator using silica

gel and immediately weighted to the variation of

0.0001g.The dried and weighed samples were immersed

in distilled water for about 24 hours at room temperature.

The soft cloth was used to remove the excess water on

the surfaces of the samples. Then the weights of the

specimens are taken. The percentage increase in weight

during immersion is calculated by the following

equation:

Increase in weight, % = (wet wt – conditioned wt) X 100

(Conditioned wt)

Serial

no.

Reinforced Material PP

Matrix,%

Coir

Oil palm EBF fiber

Type

w% Type w%

1

Raw 5.0 Raw 5.0 90.0

2

Raw 7.5 Raw 7.5 85.0

3

Raw 10.0 Raw 10.0 80.0

4

Raw 12.5 Raw 12.5 75.0

5

Raw 15.0 Raw 15.0 70.0

6

Chemical

treated

5.0 Chemical

treated

5.0 90.0

7

Chemical

treated

7.5 Chemical

treated

7.5 85.0

8

Chemical

treated

10.0 Chemical

treated

10.0 80.0

9

Chemical

treated

12.5 Chemical

treated

12.5 75.0

10

Chemical

treated

15.0 Chemical

treated

15.0 70.0

Table 1: Detailed weight% of composite produced

(applied for treated fiber and untreated fiber)

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Tensile Properties

Figure 2: Ultimate tensile strength of untreated and

treated fiber (coconut coir and oil palm) polypropylene

matrix composite.

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

10% 15% 20% 25% 30%

Ten

sile

str

engt

h,M

Pa

w% ratio

untreated fiber

treated fiber with NaOH

Figure 2 shows the comparison of tensile strength

between untreated and treated fiber polypropylene matrix

composite. It shows that the additional of untreated fiber

into the matrix did not produce any improvement to

tensile strength of the polypropylene matrix composite. The 15% weight ratio of untreated fiber exhibited the

highest tensile strength that is 9.27 MPa meanwhile the

30% by weight ratio showed the lowest tensile strength

that is 6.66 MPa.

Meanwhile, for treated fiber, increment of treated

fiber in the polypropylene composite shows the

decrement of tensile strength of the composite. At 10%

weight by ratio, the composite exhibited the highest

tensile strength that is 11 MPa. This is due to the nature of

natural fiber itself that are has tendency to exist in bundle

and this may cause the poor tensile. The modification to

the fiber increases the tensile strength of composite. Good

bonding between the fiber-matrix inter-phase let the fiber

and matrix performed their functions well.

Flexural Strength Properties

Figure 3: Flexural strength of untreated and treated fiber

(coconut coir and oil palm fibres) polypropylene matrix

composite.

Figure 3 shows the comparison of flexural strength

between untreated and treated fiber polypropylene

matrix composite. It shows that untreated fiber

composite with 10% fibre weight fraction exhibited the

highest flexural strength which is at 36.48MPa. By

adding more amount of fibres (>10% weight fraction) in

the composite will results in the decrement of flexural

strength. This may due to the characteristic of natural

fiber to be existed in bundle.

For treated fibre composite, it was revealed that the

improvement of flexural strength from 10% to 25% fiber

content by weight ratio before the flexural strength drop

or decrease at 30% weight by ratio. The modification to

the fiber increases the flexural strength of composite.

Good bonding between the fiber-matrix inter-phase let

the fiber and matrix performed their functions well.

Water Absorption Properties

Figure 4: Water absorption percentage of untreated and

treated fiber (coconut coir and oil palm) polypropylene

matrix composite

Figure 4 show the water absorption test for

polypropylene reinforced with untreated fiber. From the

chart it shows that as the loading weight of fiber

increases from 10% to 25% the water absorption

increase but then it show decrement at 30% weight ratio.

The percentage of moisture uptake increased as the fiber

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

10% 15% 20% 25% 30%

Fle

xura

l S

tren

gth

(MP

a)

weight% ratio

untreated fiber

treated fiber with NaOH

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

10% 15% 20% 25% 30%

per

cen

tage

%

w% ratio to PolyPropylene

untreated fiber

treated fiber with NaOH

weight fraction increased due to the high cellulose

content.

For untreated fiber at 25% it show lowest water

absorption percentage at 1.54 % meanwhile at 10% fiber

fraction its exhibit the highest water absorption

percentage with 5.38%. The results obtain is

contradicted with the theory which the more fiber

loading to the polypropylene matrix the higher water

absorption should occurs.

Modulus of elasticity in bending

Figure 4.4 Modulus of elasticity of untreated and treated

fiber (coconut coir and oil palm) polypropylene matrix

composite.

Figure 4.4 shows that the increasing of untreated fiber in

polypropylene matrix, the modulus of elasticity is

increased up to the maximum value at 25% weight

fraction of fiber which is 1.9 GPa whereas at 30% fiber

weight fraction shows the lowest modulus of elasticity at

1.33 GPa. This shows that at 30% fiber weight fraction,

the amount of resin did not sufficient to glue the fiber,

thus produce poor interphase bonding. It is really

contradicted to the theory where the treated fiber

composite shows lower elasticity compared to untreated

fiber polymer composite. Generally, the results show

that at any fraction of fiber, the elasticity of treated fiber

composite is poorer compared to untreated specimen.

For this result, the author expects that the revision on

methodology must be done. The acidity of sulfuric acid

at pH 3 is very strong thus may revised to pH 5 or 6. It is

expected the passivation level was take placed at pH 3

thus, would not encourage the oxidation to be occurred.

Once oxidation did not achieve, the fiber is not well

treated or in another word, it is not fully treated.

CONCLUSIONS

The test show that the addition of fiber loading to

composite did not improve the tensile strength of

composite for treated or untreated fiber. For flexural test

the addition of untreated fiber to composite did not

improve the flexural properties but for treated fiber the

additional of fiber to composite improve it flexural

strength. The water absorption test revealed that

additional of untreated fiber improved water absorption

but additional of treated fiber did not improved water

absorption characteristic. From the test also show that

incorporated of more fiber in the composite is not

improved the tensile strength and flexural strength of

composite due to nature of natural fiber that exist in

bundle or tendency of fiber to agglomerate to each other.

The composition of fiber consist more than one different

fiber in this case; the usage of oil palm and coir

simultaneously in one matrix. Each type of fiber has its

own chemical constituents. These make it harder to

disperse well to the matrix thus not improve the tensile

strength and flexural strength of the polypropylene

composite.

REFERENCES

[1] http://www.acmanet.org/professionals/index.cfm/ 21

September 2008.

[2] Khalid M. , Ali1 S., Abdullah L.C , Ratnam C.T and

Thomas Choong S.Y.( 2006).“Effect of MAPP as

Coupling Agent on the Mechanical Properties of Oil

Palm Fiber Empty Fruit Bunch and Cellulose

Polypropylene Biocomposites”. International Journal

of Engineering and Technology, Vol. 3, No.1, , pp.

79-84.

[3] Sanadi, A.R., Caulfield, D.F., Jacobson, R.E. and

Rowel, R.M. (1995). “ Renewable Agricultural

Fibers as Reinforcing Fillers in Plastics: Mechanical

Properties of Kenaf Fiber-polyproylene

Composites”. Industrial and Engineering Chemistry

Research 34(5): 1889–1896

0

200000

400000

600000

800000

1000000

1200000

1400000

1600000

1800000

2000000

10% 15% 20% 25% 30%

Mo

dulu

s o

f E

last

icit

yM

Pa(

10

3)

fiber weight ratio,%

untreated fiber

treated fiber with NaOH

1

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Overview

Manufacturers, designers, and engineers recognize the ability of composite materials

to produce high-quality, durable, cost-effective products. Composite materials are found

in many of the products used in our day-to-day lives – from the cars we drive, to the

boats, RVs, skis and golf clubs we use on the weekends. Additionally, composites are

used in many critical industrial, aerospace, and military applications. In a market place

where demands for product performance are ever increasing, composite materials have

proven to be effective in reducing costs and improving performance. Composites solve

problems, raise performance levels, and enable the development of many new products

[1].

The use of cheap agro-based renewable natural lignocellulosic fibers such as jute,

sisal, coir, EFB etc. in-preparing composites with various thermoplastic and

thermosetting resins has gained much momentum in the recent years [2]. Extensive

research has been carried out on the agro fiber plastic composites which have been

reported by a number of workers [3].

2

This is due to their low cost, easy availability, nonabrasive nature, low density, high

specific properties and biodegradable characteristics. A broad range of agro based fibers

is being utilized as the main structural components or as filler agents in these composite

materials. Malaysia is the leading producers of palm oil. Abundance of oil palm

cellulosic material that can be readily obtained from the by-products, provides a new area

of interest for research development [2].

The oil palm tree (Elaeis guineensis) originated from West Africa where it was

growing wild and later developed into an agricultural crop. It was first introduced to

Malaya in early 1870’s as an ornamental plant. In 1917 the first commercial planting took

place in Tennamaran Estate in Selangor, laying the foundations for the vast oil palm

plantations and palm oil industry in Malaysia [4].

Today, 3.88 million hectares of land in Malaysia is under oil palm cultivation

producing 14 million tonnes of palm oil in 2004. Malaysia is the largest producer and

exporter of palm oil in the world, accounting for 30% of the world’s traded edible oils &

fats supply. The oil consists of only 10% of the total biomes produced in the plantation.

The remainder consists of huge amount of lignocellulosic materials such as oil palm

fronds, trunks and empty fruit bunches. The projection figures of these residues are as

follows:

(i) 7.0 million tons of oil palm trunks

(ii) 26.2 million tons of oil palm fronds

3

(iii) 23% of Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) per ton of Fresh Fruit Bunch (FFB) processed in

oil palm Mill

Based on the above figures, Malaysia therefore has a great potential in turning its

abundant supply of oil palm industry by-products into value-added products [5].

The fibrous material forming part of the soft mass surrounding coconut, the fruit of

the tree “Cocos Nucifera” or the coconut palm is world over known as coir. Coconut husk

is the raw material for the coir industry, which is available in enormous quantities

wherever there is large-scale coconut cultivation. The palm is essentially a plant of

tropics and it thrives within 200 of the equator. Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand and

neighboring islands, India, Sri Lanka, pacific territories, east and West Africa and the

West Indies are the important coconut producing countries in the world. India and Sri

Lanka account the major contributions out of the above. Coconuts are usually harvested

at the end of every 45 days all throughout the year [6].

1.2 Hybrid composite reinforced with coir and oil palm EBF fiber

As mentioned in overview section most of the research done by researcher is only

concentrate only on single filler usage in thermoplastic or thermo set composite. There is

still no study based on the usage of dual filler or fiber in single matrix has been

mentioned. The hybrid composite having polypropylene reinforced with coir and oil palm

EBF fiber will give different result in mechanical properties of the composites compared

4

to the coir or oil palm EBF fiber as filler as single filler in polypropylene composite.

Thus in this study the combination of coir and oil palm EBF fiber act together as fillers

are to develop the polypropylene composite with the good stiffness without scarifying the

desirable toughness and with the increasing the cost effectiveness. This lead towards an

understand the new properties of hybrid polypropylene composite which could make coir

and oil palm EBF waste became more useful to the industries.

1.3 Scopes and objectives

The main objective of this project is to investigate the effect of applying chemical

treatment on the fiber and the effect of the combination of oil palm EFB and coir as filler

reinforced in polypropylene composite. To obtain this objectives, the fibers are treated

with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and sodium periodate (NaIO4).The fiber will be dried

before the composite fabrication. These test are done that is flexural test, tensile test and

water absorption test according to ASTM standard. Finally, the result from the tests are

analyzed and discussed.

5

CHAPTER 2

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Natural fiber usage

The universe of "bio-fibers" is fairly broad. Included are very short wood fibers

from both deciduous and coniferous sources, used as fillers in extruded plastic lumber

and molding compounds. Also represented are straw from corn, wheat and rice crops, and

various natural grasses. From a commercial standpoint, the most viable structural fibers

come from purpose-grown textile plants and some fruit trees.

Such fibers can generally be classified into three types, according to Prof. Lawrence

Drzal, director of the Composite Materials and Structures Center at Michigan State

University (East Lansing, Mich.). "Bast" fibers, such as flax, hemp, jute and kenaf, are

noted for being fairly stiff when used as a composite reinforcement. Leaf fibers,

including sisal, henequen, pineapple and banana, are noted for improving composite

toughness with somewhat lower structural contribution. Finally, seed or fruit fibers —

cotton, kapok and coir (from coconut husks) — demonstrate elastomeric type toughness,

but are not structural [7].

6

After World War II, the build-up of synthetic fibers significantly decreased the use

of natural fibers. Now, with the increase of oil prices and environmental considerations,

there has been a revival of natural fiber use within the textile, building, plastic and

automotive industries. This interest is reinforced by the developmental perspectives on

the agro-industrial market and local productions, allowing economic development and

independence versus imported materials. France remains the greatest European hemp

fiber producer with 50,000 tons yearly (EU 100,000 tons). France also produces the

largest range of industrial seeds worldwide. China and Russia are also important

producers, but the statistics in that field are not available. In the industrial domain, the

consortium DAIFA group SAS have reached a leading position in Europe in the

automotive plastics market. They specialize in injection and thermo press plastics

reinforced with natural fibers. The use of natural fibers at the industrial level improves

the environmental sustainability of the parts being constructed, especially within the

automotive market. Within the building industry, the interest in natural fibers is mostly

economical and technical; natural fibers allow insulation properties higher than current

materials [8].

Cellulosic materials or natural fiber have been evaluated as fibrous reinforcements

for composites in the past [9, 10]. Cellulosic materials are especially attractive for use in

composites because they have relatively low densities. For example, cellulose fibers have

a density of approximately 1500 kg/m3 in comparison to a density of 2500 kg/m

3 for E

graglass fibers. Such weight savings can be highly advantageous, particularly in

automotive applications. In addition to the reduction in weight, cellulosic fibers are not