Characterization and Treatments of Oil Palm Frond Fibers and Its Suitability for Technical Applications

The aim of this paper is to explore the potential of oil palm frond fibers (OPFf) for technical applications such as composite reinforcement. For this purpose, fibers obtained from frond wastes were subjected to various chemical treatments with NaOH and chemically and morphologically characterized. Afterward, composites of poly-lactic acid matrix and nonwoven matts made with the treated and the untreated OPFf were prepared and the mechanical properties tested. It was found that the alkaline treatment was effective for increasing the wettability of the fibers leading to composites with a good-balanced between lightness and toughness for potential applications in packaging or automotive industries.