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. 2014 Aug 29;15(9):15344-57.
doi: 10.3390/ijms150915344.

The influence of green surface modification of oil palm mesocarp fiber by superheated steam on the mechanical properties and dimensional stability of oil palm mesocarp fiber/poly(butylene succinate) biocomposite

Yoon Yee Then  1 , Nor Azowa Ibrahim  2 , Norhazlin Zainuddin  3 , Hidayah Ariffin  4 , Wan Md Zin Wan Yunus  5 , Buong Woei Chieng  6
Affiliations

The influence of green surface modification of oil palm mesocarp fiber by superheated steam on the mechanical properties and dimensional stability of oil palm mesocarp fiber/poly(butylene succinate) biocomposite

Yoon Yee Then et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

Abstract

In this paper, superheated steam (SHS) was used as cost effective and green processing technique to modify oil palm mesocarp fiber (OPMF) for biocomposite applications. The purpose of this modification was to promote the adhesion between fiber and thermoplastic. The modification was carried out in a SHS oven at various temperature (200-230 °C) and time (30-120 min) under normal atmospheric pressure. The biocomposites from SHS-treated OPMFs and poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) at a weight ratio of 70:30 were prepared by melt blending technique. The mechanical properties and dimensional stability of the biocomposites were evaluated. This study showed that the SHS treatment increased the roughness of the fiber surface due to the removal of surface impurities and hemicellulose. The tensile, flexural and impact properties, as well as dimensional stability of the biocomposites were markedly enhanced by the presence of SHS-treated OPMF. Scanning electron microscopy analysis showed improvement of interfacial adhesion between PBS and SHS-treated OPMF. This work demonstrated that SHS could be used as an eco-friendly and sustainable processing method for modification of OPMF in biocomposite fabrication.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
FTIR spectra of OPMF and SHSOPMF.
Figure 2
Figure 2
SEM micrographs of (a) OPMF and (b) SHSOPMF.
Figure 3
Figure 3
SEM micrographs of untreated OPMF/PBS (a),(b) and SHSOPMF/PBS (c),(d) biocomposites.
Figure 4
Figure 4
The water uptake and thickness swelling of untreated OPMF/PBS and SHSOPMF/PBS biocomposites.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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