THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF MEDIUM DENSITY RIGID POLYURETHANE BIOFOAM

This paper described the effect of empty fruit bunch (EFB) loading in the medium density rigid foam, which was prepared from the palm kernel oil based polyol. The grounded 300 mu m EFB fiber was used as filler and its composition were varied from 3, 6, 9 and 12 weight percent. EFB filled PU shown good dimensional stability at 70 degrees C and -15 degrees C due expending and shrinking percentage are less than 0.8% and 0.4% respectively. The mechanical properties were increased linearly with the EFB loading until it reached an optimum percentage of the EFB. SEM images shows the usage of big size cylindrical particle suggested that the fiber pull out will responsible for the synergistic effect of flexibility and strength of the biofoam produced.