Fabrication and characterization of hybrid oil palm /kenaf core fiber-reinforced poly(lactic acid) biocomposites

Conventional fiberboards uses wood fiber and carcinogenic urea formaldehyde, and hence poses economic and environmental problems such as deforestation, desertification, reduced biodiversity and emission of toxic formaldehyde. A potentially promising alternative involves the use of natural fibers the...

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Main Author:	Umar, Abubakar Birnin-Yauri
Format:	Thesis
Language:	English
Published:	2017
Subjects:	Oil palm Kenaf Polylactic acid
Online Access:	http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/70920/1/FS%202017%2045%20-%20IR.pdf
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spelling	my-upm-ir.709202019-08-07T06:40:53Z Fabrication and characterization of hybrid oil palm /kenaf core fiber-reinforced poly(lactic acid) biocomposites 2017-08 Umar, Abubakar Birnin-Yauri Conventional fiberboards uses wood fiber and carcinogenic urea formaldehyde, and hence poses economic and environmental problems such as deforestation, desertification, reduced biodiversity and emission of toxic formaldehyde. A potentially promising alternative involves the use of natural fibers thermoplastic composites. This study demonstrated the development of hybrid oil palm-kenaf core fiber reinforced poly(lactic acid) biocomposites for use as a clean and sustainable option to the wood fiber board. The kenaf core fiber, as secondary fiber was incorporated into empty fruit bunch fiber, or oil palm mesocarp fiber, melt-blended with PLA and hot-pressed into their corresponding hybrid biocomposites, aimed at achieving synergism. The test results showed the best hybridization performances at 5 wt.% kenaf core fiber into 55 wt.% empty fruit bunch fiber or oil palm mesocarp fiber, and 40 wt.% PLA matrix, corresponding to the 60:40 total fiber to PLA loadings, respectively. Though, the difference in the mechanical and physical properties of the hybrid biocomposites is not large, also they revealed morphological defects and high densities, resulting from high contents of hemicellulose and impurities in the natural fibers. Borax modification of the natural fibers, with a water-washing procedures enhances the material performances of the hybrid biocomposites. The borax treatment caused considerable increase in cellulose compositions, minimal removal of lignin, and significant elimination of hemicellulose and waxy substances, as confirmed through chemical analysis, bulk density, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, thermogravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscopy of the natural fibers. Optimal improvements in the mechanical and physical properties of hybrid biocomposites were observed at 5 wt.% borax concentration. However, the borax-treated hybrid biocomposites revealed few morphological cracks, recorded relatively higher densities, and statistical insignificance of some mechanical properties, which were attributed to brittleness of the PLA. The use of maleic anhydride-modified PLA greatly aided to overcome these anomalies. The borax-treated hybrid fiber reinforced maleic anhydride-modified PLA biocomposites provided the best results. Best hybrids showed impressive performances in other fibre board related properties, though, they recorded densities within the range of high density fiber board. This work revealed that the natural fiber hybridization could offer possible synergism, complement material properties of kenaf core fiber, and provides sustainable application of the oil palm fibers in fabrication of natural fiber based biocomposites. Oil palm Kenaf Polylactic acid 2017-08 Thesis http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/70920/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/70920/1/FS%202017%2045%20-%20IR.pdf text en public doctoral Universiti Putra Malaysia Oil palm Kenaf Polylactic acid
institution	Universiti Putra Malaysia
collection	PSAS Institutional Repository
language	English
topic	Oil palm Kenaf Polylactic acid
spellingShingle	Oil palm Kenaf Polylactic acid Umar, Abubakar Birnin-Yauri Fabrication and characterization of hybrid oil palm /kenaf core fiber-reinforced poly(lactic acid) biocomposites
description	Conventional fiberboards uses wood fiber and carcinogenic urea formaldehyde, and hence poses economic and environmental problems such as deforestation, desertification, reduced biodiversity and emission of toxic formaldehyde. A potentially promising alternative involves the use of natural fibers thermoplastic composites. This study demonstrated the development of hybrid oil palm-kenaf core fiber reinforced poly(lactic acid) biocomposites for use as a clean and sustainable option to the wood fiber board. The kenaf core fiber, as secondary fiber was incorporated into empty fruit bunch fiber, or oil palm mesocarp fiber, melt-blended with PLA and hot-pressed into their corresponding hybrid biocomposites, aimed at achieving synergism. The test results showed the best hybridization performances at 5 wt.% kenaf core fiber into 55 wt.% empty fruit bunch fiber or oil palm mesocarp fiber, and 40 wt.% PLA matrix, corresponding to the 60:40 total fiber to PLA loadings, respectively. Though, the difference in the mechanical and physical properties of the hybrid biocomposites is not large, also they revealed morphological defects and high densities, resulting from high contents of hemicellulose and impurities in the natural fibers. Borax modification of the natural fibers, with a water-washing procedures enhances the material performances of the hybrid biocomposites. The borax treatment caused considerable increase in cellulose compositions, minimal removal of lignin, and significant elimination of hemicellulose and waxy substances, as confirmed through chemical analysis, bulk density, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, thermogravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscopy of the natural fibers. Optimal improvements in the mechanical and physical properties of hybrid biocomposites were observed at 5 wt.% borax concentration. However, the borax-treated hybrid biocomposites revealed few morphological cracks, recorded relatively higher densities, and statistical insignificance of some mechanical properties, which were attributed to brittleness of the PLA. The use of maleic anhydride-modified PLA greatly aided to overcome these anomalies. The borax-treated hybrid fiber reinforced maleic anhydride-modified PLA biocomposites provided the best results. Best hybrids showed impressive performances in other fibre board related properties, though, they recorded densities within the range of high density fiber board. This work revealed that the natural fiber hybridization could offer possible synergism, complement material properties of kenaf core fiber, and provides sustainable application of the oil palm fibers in fabrication of natural fiber based biocomposites.
format	Thesis
qualification_level	Doctorate
author	Umar, Abubakar Birnin-Yauri
author_facet	Umar, Abubakar Birnin-Yauri
author_sort	Umar, Abubakar Birnin-Yauri
title	Fabrication and characterization of hybrid oil palm /kenaf core fiber-reinforced poly(lactic acid) biocomposites
title_short	Fabrication and characterization of hybrid oil palm /kenaf core fiber-reinforced poly(lactic acid) biocomposites
title_full	Fabrication and characterization of hybrid oil palm /kenaf core fiber-reinforced poly(lactic acid) biocomposites
title_fullStr	Fabrication and characterization of hybrid oil palm /kenaf core fiber-reinforced poly(lactic acid) biocomposites
title_full_unstemmed	Fabrication and characterization of hybrid oil palm /kenaf core fiber-reinforced poly(lactic acid) biocomposites
title_sort	fabrication and characterization of hybrid oil palm /kenaf core fiber-reinforced poly(lactic acid) biocomposites
granting_institution	Universiti Putra Malaysia
publishDate	2017
url	http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/70920/1/FS%202017%2045%20-%20IR.pdf
_version_	1747812936847458304

Fabrication and characterization of hybrid oil palm /kenaf core fiber-reinforced poly(lactic acid) biocomposites

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