Effects of coupling agent on oil palm clinker and flour-filled polypropylene composites

Abstract

This study gives the comparative analysis of polypropylene (PP)/oil palm flour (OPF) and PP/oil palm clinker (OPC) composites using maleated polypropylene (MAPP) as a coupling agent. Ground flour and crashed OPC were compounded separately into polypropylene with and without MAPP using a twin-screw compounder. The incorporated OPF and OPC in the composites were up to 40 wt%. The compounded samples were prepared into test specimens by injection molder. The composites were characterized by tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural strength, flexural modulus, impact strength, and melt flow index. The surface morphology of composites was evaluated by scanning electron microscope. Incorporation of coupling agent showed better result than that of without coupling agent. Various properties of composites incorporated with OPC represented considerably close to the composites with OPF.