Properties of Mexican Tropical Palm Oil Flower and Fruit Fibers for Their Prospective Use in Eco-Friendly Construction Material

Abstract

The palm oil industry is the leading source of palm oil waste fibers. The disposal of palm oil waste fibers by burning or dumping causes environmental issues such as the emission of CO2 and a diminution in soil fertility. Natural fiber reuse in construction materials such as concrete, mortar and adobe bricks as reinforcement provides a possible eco-friendly solution for fiber waste management. Palm oil flower fibers (POFL) obtained from palm oil empty fruit bunches and palm oil fruit fibers (POFR) obtained from palm oil fruit are two important types of palm oil fibers. Valorization of palm oil fibers requires a detailed analysis of their physical, chemical and mechanical characteristics. In this research, tropical palm oil flower and palm oil fruit fibers from Mexico were studied. Fiber extraction, preparation and testing were performed to observe their characteristics, which include water absorption, density, length, section estimation, chemical composition, thermal conductivity, thermal analysis (ATG) and tensile strength. The length, diameter and density of natural fibers have a significant influence on the strength and quality of composite materials. The characteristics of fibers vary with their chemical composition. Mechanical testing of palm oil fibers indicates a large variation in the tensile strength of palm oil flower and fruit fibers. Both palm oil flower and palm oil fruit fibers exhibit bilinear tensile load–deflection behavior associated with the alignment of cellulose along their fiber axis. The thermal characteristics of fibers indicate low thermal stability and thermal conductivity, which are essential for their use in building materials.