Water sorption in oil palm fiber reinforced phenol formaldehyde composites

Water sorption kinetics in oil palm fiber reinforced phenol formaldehyde (PF) composites and oil palm/glass hybrid fiber reinforced PF composites was investigated. The influence of fiber loading, relative volume fractions of fibers in hybrid composites and fiber surface modifications on the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of water sorption by the composites were also studied. Water sorption at four different temperatures was analysed and compared. Composite with 10 wt% fiber loading exhibits maximum water uptake. Hybridisation of the oil palm fiber with glass considerably decreased the water sorption by the composite. The concentration dependency of the diffusion coefficient was analysed and discussed. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.