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. 2020 Jul 15;12(7):1571.
doi: 10.3390/polym12071571.

Characterization Study of Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) Fibers Reinforcement in Poly(Butylene) Succinate (PBS)/Starch/Glycerol Composite Sheet

Rafiqah S Ayu  1 , Abdan Khalina  2 , Ahmad Saffian Harmaen  1 , Khairul Zaman  3 , Tawakkal Isma  2 , Qiuyun Liu  4 , R A Ilyas  5 , Ching Hao Lee  1
Affiliations

Characterization Study of Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) Fibers Reinforcement in Poly(Butylene) Succinate (PBS)/Starch/Glycerol Composite Sheet

Rafiqah S Ayu et al. Polymers (Basel). .

Abstract

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.

Keywords: biocomposite; characterizations; empty fruit bunch fiber (EFB); glycerol; polybutylene succinate (PBS); polymer Blends; starch.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Sheet extrusion process.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Tensile strength and tensile modulus of PBS composites.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Flexural strength and flexural modulus of PBS composites.
Figure 4
Figure 4
SEM micrographs for: (a) raw PBS, (b) 0% EFB, (c) 8% EFB, (d) 12% EFB, (e) 16% EFB and (f) 20% EFB.
Figure 5
Figure 5
TGA profiles of EFB composites.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Moisture uptake analysis and average loss of moisture contents for EFB composites.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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