Empty Fruit Bunches as a Reinforcement in Laminated Bio-composites

Abstract

In this article, we study laminated bio-composites that were reinforced with empty fruit bunches. Five-ply veneer laminated bio-composites were prepared by alternately arranging oil palm trunk veneer and empty fruit bunch mat. Composites were made with a gluing layer of 250 or 450 g/m2of phenol formaldehyde. The mechanical, physical, and thermal (TGA) properties of the composite were studied. Results indicated an improvement in mechanical, physical, and thermal properties of the laminated bio-composites with the use of empty fruit bunches as reinforcement. The water absorption and thickness swelling of laminated bio-composites that were reinforced with empty fruit bunches were better than bio-composites not reinforced with empty fruit bunches. Laminated bio-composites with the use of empty fruit bunch as reinforcement showed better bending strength, bending modulus, and screw withdrawal. Thermal stability for laminated bio-composites with empty fruit bunch also improved. Images taken with a scanning electron micrograph indicated an improvement in the fiber-matrix bonding for the laminated panel glued with 450 g/m2of phenol formaldehyde.