Effects of fiber loading,fiber type,its mesh sizes,and coupling agent on the properties of oil palm biomass/polypropylene composites

This study investigates the effects of fiber type, mesh size, fiber loading, and coupling agent on the performance of oil palm biomass (OPB) fiber composites. The dried OPB fibers were ground and screened into 63, 150, 250, 450, and 500 µm meshes for composite production. Fiber composition and fiber morphology were evaluated by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy disperse analysis of X-Ray. Ground fiber was compounded into polypropylene (PP) by means of a twin-screw compounder. Maleated polypropylene (MAPP) was used as a coupling agent during compounding. The incorporated fiber contents for OPB composites were 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% (by weight). The compounded samples were prepared into test specimens by injection molder. The composites were characterized by tensile testing, flexural testing, impact testing, melt flow index, and SEM. The analysis of variance of the effects of fiber types, fiber mesh sizes, and fiber contents and their interactions on the OPB–PP composite properties were studied and found to affect on composite properties significantly. The most significant effect on strength and modulus was found by the addition of coupling agent which was suggested to be due to the thermodynamic segregation of the MAPP toward the interface resulting in covalent bonding to the −OH groups on the fiber surface.