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Consecutive superheated steam-alkali treatment was introduced to modify oil palm mesocarp fiber (OPMF) prior to biocomposite fabrication. The biocomposite made up of 70 wt.% modified OPMF (SNOPMF) and 30 wt.% poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) was prepared by melt blending followed by compression molding. A silane coupling agent of 3- aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTMS) was also incorporated into the SNOPMF/PBS biocomposite during the compounding process to impart better adhesion at the SNOPMF-PBS interface. The experimental results revealed that the tensile, flexural, and impact strengths were enhanced by 16, 30, and 15%, respectively, after the introduction of 2 wt.% APTMS to the SNOPMF/PBS biocomposite. Similarly, the resistance to water uptake and thickness swelling of this biocomposite was improved by 34 and 49%, respectively, relative to SNOPMF/PBS biocomposite. The SEM observation of the tensile fracture surface showed that APTMS improved the interfacial adhesion between SNOPMF and PBS. Based on the results, it can be deduced that APTMS could be a good coupling agent for improving the SNOPMF-PBS adhesion and, thereby, lead to a water resistant biocomposite of enhanced mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new class of biocomposites based on oil palm empty fruit bunch fiber and poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT), which is a biodegradable aliphatic aromatic co-polyester, were prepared using melt blending technique. The composites were prepared at various fiber contents of 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 wt% and characterized. Chemical treatment of oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) fiber was successfully done by grafting succinic anhydride (SAH) onto the EFB fiber surface, and the modified fibers were obtained in two levels of grafting (low and high weight percentage gain, WPG) after 5 and 6 h of grafting. The FTIR characterization showed evidence of successful fiber esterification. The results showed that 40 wt% of fiber loading improved the tensile properties of the biocomposite. The effects of EFB fiber chemical treatments and various organic initiators content on mechanical and thermal properties and water absorption of PBAT/EFB 60/40 wt% biocomposites were also examined. The SAH-g-EFB fiber at low WPG in presence of 1 wt% of dicumyl peroxide (DCP) initiator was found to significantly enhance the tensile and flexural properties as well as water resistance of biocomposite (up to 24%) compared with those of untreated fiber reinforced composites. The thermal behavior of the composites was evaluated from thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)/differential thermogravimetric (DTG) thermograms. It was observed that, the chemical treatment has marginally improved the biocomposites' thermal stability in presence of 1 wt% of dicumyl peroxide at the low WPG level of grafting. The improved fiber-matrix surface enhancement in the chemically treated biocomposite was confirmed by SEM analysis of the tensile fractured specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a mixture of thermoplastic polybutylene succinate (PBS), tapioca starch, glycerol and empty fruit bunch fiber was prepared by a melt compounding method using an industrial extruder. Generally, insertion of starch/glycerol has provided better strength performance, but worse thermal and water uptake to all specimens. The effect of fiber loading on mechanical, morphological, thermal and physical properties was studied in focus. Low interfacial bonding between fiber and matrix revealed a poor mechanical performance. However, higher fiber loadings have improved the strength values. This is because fibers regulate good load transfer mechanisms, as confirmed from SEM micrographs. Tensile and flexural strengths have increased 6.0% and 12.2%, respectively, for 20 wt% empty fruit bunch (EFB) fiber reinforcements. There was a slightly higher mass loss for early stage thermal decomposition, whereas regardless of EFB contents, insignificant changes on decomposition temperature were recorded. A higher lignin constituent in the composite (for high natural fiber volume) resulted in a higher mass residue, which would turn into char at high temperature. This observation indirectly proves the dimensional integrity of the composite. However, as expected, with higher EFB fiber contents in the composite, higher values in both the moisture uptake and moisture loss analyses were found. The hydroxyl groups in the EFB absorbed water moisture through formation of hydrogen bonding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]