Khalina Abdan

Properties of Oil Palm Fibre Polypropylene Composites: Rheological Behaviours and Properties of Oil Palm (Elaeis Guineensis, Jacq.) Empty Fruit Bunch Fibres / Polypropylene Composites Khalina Abdan

This book emphasized on the feasibility of processing the composite prepared from oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB)/polypropylene(PP) using injection moulding manufacturing process. The effects of fibre size,fibre content,melt flow rate and concentration of maleated polypropylene (MAPP) on the mechanical,physical,rheological and thermal properties of EFB/PP composites were studied. The effects of types and concentrations of reactive additives on the irradiated EFB/PP composites were also investigated particularly to the rheological behaviour and dynamic mechanical thermal characteristics. The EFB/PP composites were prepared from thermomechanically pulped EFB fibre and PP resin. The internal mixer was used to mix and the injection moulding machine was employed to form the specimen accordance to the ASTM standards. Electron beam was used to irradiate the EFB/PP. The EFB fibre size and fibre content significantly affected the mechanical and physical properties of EFB/PP composites. The rheological properties was significantly influence the irradiated composite. Fibre orientation studied using scanning electron microscopy showing EFB skin core structure.