Development Of Unsaturated Polyester Hybrid Composites Filled With Empty Fruit Bunch And Oil Palm Ash
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Date
2017-07
Authors
Mustahil, Noorul Linda Suraya
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch (OPEFB) and Oil Palm Ash (OPA) were reported as among highly dumped oil palm waste. This research work aims to develop hybrid unsaturated polyester composites filled with OPEFB and OPA filler which emerges as a viable alternative to the existing polymer composites. Advantage of hybrid composite is one type of reinforcement/filler involved could complement with what are lacking in the other reinforcement/filler. In this study, OPEFB and OPA filler were mixed together into unsaturated polyester resin with different OPEFB to OPA filler ratio (0:100, 20:80, 40:60, 60:40, 80:20 and 100:0) and different filler sizes (60 mesh, 100 mesh and 200 mesh). The properties of both fillers were first characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), particle size distribution analysis, Energy Dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Thermo Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The hybrid unsaturated polyester composites filled with OPEFB and OPA were cold pressed and cured under room temperature with the addition of methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (MEKP) as a curing agent. The physical, mechanical, thermal, morphological and accelerated weathering properties were then analyzed. Physical properties of composites showed that the incorporation of silica in OPA filler help in compaction between filler and resin, thus, increased the density and reduced the void content of composites produced. Composite with more OPEFB to OPA ratio showed highest percentage of water absorption due to the hydrophilic nature of its cellulosic materials.
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Keywords
Development of unsaturated polyester hybrid composites , empty fruit bunch and oil palm ash