The Effects of Oil Palm Fruit Bunch (OPFB) Fiber and Coupling Agent Loadings on the Performance of Hybrid Composites

Abstract

Hybrid composites were prepared by incorporating oil palm fruit bunch (OPFB) fibre in the mixture of clay and polypropylene as secondary filler. OPFB and MAPP loadings were varied to investigate it effects on the performance. Tensile and impact tests were performed on the hybrid composites to evaluate their mechanical performances. Water absorption and thermal degradation tests were also conducted on the hybrid composites. Results indicated that the incorporation of OPFB in PP/PPnanoclay has decreased the thermal stability of hybrid composites. Tensile modulus of hybrid composites increased as the OPFB loading increases and further increased with the increasing of MAPP loading. Generally the tensile strength has decreased with the addition of OPFB, however slight increased was observed when the MAPP loading was increased. The impact strength has also increased with the increasing of OPFB for higher MAPP loading.