A Comparative Study on the Effect of Oil Palm Fiber Contents and Types on Properties of Rubberwood Sawdust-Polypropylene Composites

Authors

  • Watthanaphon Cheewawuttipong Department of Industrial Engineering, Materials Processing Technology Research Unit,Faculty of Engineering, Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya
  • Chatree Homkhiew Department of Industrial Engineering, Materials Processing Technology Research Unit, Faculty of Engineering, Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya
  • Surasit Rawangwong Department of Industrial Engineering, Materials Processing Technology Research Unit, Faculty of Engineering, Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya,

Keywords:

wood-plastic composites, oil palm mesocarp fiber, oil palm fruit bunch, oil palm fond

Abstract

This research aimed to analyze the effect of oil palm fiber contents and types on mechanical, physical and thermal properties of composites from polypropylene and rubberwood sawdust. In manufacturing the composites, a twin-screw extruder was used to blend mixture components and to form composite samples. From results of the experiment, the polypropylene composites with oil palm fruit bunch fiber or oil palm mesocarp fiber or oil palm fond fiber exhibited lower mechanical and physical properties than the composites with rubberwood sawdust. Likewise, the addition of rubberwood sawdust or oil palm fibers into polypropylene matrix clearly decreased the strength but increased the modulus. The polypropylene composites reinforced with oil palm fruit bunch fiber gave higher strength, water absorption and thermal stability than that of the composites reinforced with oil palm mesocarp fiber or oil palm fond fiber. Furthermore, the polypropylene composites reinforced with rubberwood sawdust and oil palm fond fiber 5-10 wt% gave better tensile modulus 42.64%, water absorption 18.06% and thickness swelling 61.64% than rubberwood sawdust-polypropylene composites.

Author Biographies

Watthanaphon Cheewawuttipong, Department of Industrial Engineering, Materials Processing Technology Research Unit,Faculty of Engineering, Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya

Department of Industrial Engineering, Materials Processing Technology Research Unit,Faculty of Engineering, Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya, Boyang, Muang, Songkhla  90000, Thailand.

Chatree Homkhiew, Department of Industrial Engineering, Materials Processing Technology Research Unit, Faculty of Engineering, Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya

Department of Industrial Engineering,  Materials Processing Technology Research Unit, Faculty of Engineering, Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya, Boyang, Muang, Songkhla   90000, Thailand.

Surasit Rawangwong, Department of Industrial Engineering, Materials Processing Technology Research Unit, Faculty of Engineering, Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya,

Department of Industrial Engineering, Materials Processing Technology Research Unit, Faculty of Engineering, Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya, Boyang, Muang, Songkhla   90000, Thailand.

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Published

2022-03-11

How to Cite

Cheewawuttipong, W., Homkhiew, C., & Rawangwong, S. (2022). A Comparative Study on the Effect of Oil Palm Fiber Contents and Types on Properties of Rubberwood Sawdust-Polypropylene Composites. Recent Science and Technology, 14(1), 31–46. Retrieved from https://li01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/rmutsvrj/article/view/242810

Issue

Section

Research Article