Journal
JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE
Volume 105, Issue 5, Pages 2488-2496Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1002/app.25536
Keywords
polyurethane; hybrid bio-composites; oil palm empty fruit bunch fiber; kaolinite
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This study described the mechanical and thermal properties of hybrid bio-composites from oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) fibers and kaolinite. The polyurethane (PU) used as matrix is formed by reacting palm kernel oil (PKO)-based polyester with crude isocyanate. The blending ratio of PU to EFB fibers was fixed at 35 : 65 and kaolinite was added at 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20% (by weight). The occurrence of chemical interactions between the hydroxyl terminals in both fillers and the PU system was determined via FTIR spectroscopy. Hybrid bio-composites showed improved stiffness, strength, and better water resistance with the addition of kaolinite to an extent. At 15% of kaolinite loading, maximum flexural and impact strengths were observed. The interaction between kaolinite with PU matrix and EFB fibers enhanced the mechanical properties of the bio-composites, which was justified from the FTIR spectrum. However, over-packing of kaolinite was observed at 20% kaolinite loading, which ruptured the cellular walls and degraded strength of the biocomposites. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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