Abstract
A new class of biocomposites based on oil palm empty fruit bunch fiber and poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT), which is a biodegradable aliphatic aromatic co-polyester, were prepared using melt blending technique. The composites were prepared at various fiber contents of 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 wt% and characterized. Chemical treatment of oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) fiber was successfully done by grafting succinic anhydride (SAH) onto the EFB fiber surface, and the modified fibers were obtained in two levels of grafting (low and high weight percentage gain, WPG) after 5 and 6 h of grafting. The FTIR characterization showed evidence of successful fiber esterification. The results showed that 40 wt% of fiber loading improved the tensile properties of the biocomposite. The effects of EFB fiber chemical treatments and various organic initiators content on mechanical and thermal properties and water absorption of PBAT/EFB 60/40 wt% biocomposites were also examined. The SAH-g-EFB fiber at low WPG in presence of 1 wt% of dicumyl peroxide (DCP) initiator was found to significantly enhance the tensile and flexural properties as well as water resistance of biocomposite (up to 24%) compared with those of untreated fiber reinforced composites. The thermal behavior of the composites was evaluated from thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)/differential thermogravimetric (DTG) thermograms. It was observed that, the chemical treatment has marginally improved the biocomposites’ thermal stability in presence of 1 wt% of dicumyl peroxide at the low WPG level of grafting. The improved fiber-matrix surface enhancement in the chemically treated biocomposite was confirmed by SEM analysis of the tensile fractured specimens.
Highlights
The perspective of environmental concerns and lack of biodegradability all across the world, have initiated a drive for biodegradable materials, especially biodegradable polymers, as an alternative for holistically sustainable economic growth [1]
The present study focuses on treating empty fruit bunch (EFB) fibers with succinic anhydride (SAH) and incorporates esterified
There is a decrease of absorption in the region of 1705–1750 cm−1 corresponding to the C=O stretching of carbonyl and ester groups. The peak within this region is attributed to the occurrence of ester bond within the carboxylic group of the fiber. The weakening of this peak corresponds to the extent of esterification; lower value in weight percentage gain (WPG)
Summary
The perspective of environmental concerns and lack of biodegradability all across the world, have initiated a drive for biodegradable materials, especially biodegradable polymers, as an alternative for holistically sustainable economic growth [1]. Proper chemical treatment can improve the adhesion at the matrix/fiber interface and reduce the water absorption ability of a composite. These will inevitably enhance the fundamental properties of natural fibers reinforced biocomposites [7,8]. Researchers have studied the effects of chemical treatment of EFB fiber using various anhydrides, such as acetic, propionic and succinic anhydride, on mechanical and physical properties, like water absorption of EFB fiber reinforced polyester biocomposites [10]. EFB fiber in PBAT to generate a new biocomposite with high thermal and mechanical performances
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