Abstract
A multi-objective optimization of in situ sol-gel process was conducted in preparing oil palm fiber-reinforced polypropylene (OPF-PP) composite for an enhancement of mechanical and thermal properties. Tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and butylamine were used as precursors and catalysts for the sol-gel process. The face-centered central composite design (FCCD) experiments coupled with response surface methodology (RSM) has been utilized to optimize in situ silica sol-gel process. The optimization process showed that the drying time after the in-situ silica sol-gel process was the most influential factor on silica content, while the molar ratio of TEOS to water gave the most significant effect on silica residue. The maximum silica content of 34.1% and the silica residue of 35.9% were achieved under optimum conditions of 21.3 h soaking time, 50 min drying time, pH value of 9.26, and 1:4 molar ratio of TEOS to water. The untreated oil palm fiber (OPF) and silica sol-gel modified OPF (SiO2-OPF) were used as the reinforcing fibers, with PP as a matrix and maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MAgPP) as a compatibilizer for the fiber-reinforced PP matrix (SiO2-OPF-PP-MAgPP) composites preparation. The mechanical and thermal properties of OPF-PP, SiO2-OPF-PP, SiO2-OPF-PP-MAgPP composites, and pure PP were determined. It was found that the OPF-S-PP-MAgPP composite had the highest toughness and stiffness with values of tensile strength, Young’s modulus, and elongation at break of 30.9 MPa, 881.8 MPa, and 15.1%, respectively. The thermal properties analyses revealed that the OPF-S-PP-MAgPP exhibited the highest thermally stable inflection point at 477 °C as compared to pure PP and other composites formulations. The finding of the present study showed that the SiO2-OPF had the potential to use as a reinforcing agent to enhance the thermal-mechanical properties of the composites.
Highlights
Natural fibers are gaining significant attention for their potential in replacing the conventional synthetic fibers for the fiber reinforcement into polymeric composites in terms of environmental benefits, high stiffness-to-weight ratio, and relatively inexpensive feed stocks [1,2,3]
In situ silica sol-grelinpfroorcceesds poonlyOpPrFopwyalesnaenceofmfecptoivsietem. ethod to fill the voids of Oil palm fiber (OPF), which enhan2c.ed Tthheemopectihmanuimcalsialincda tchoenrtmenatl opfro3p4e.1r%tieasnodf osilipcalmresfiidbuere-roefin3f5o.9rc%edwere ach polypropylene coumnpdoersiotep.timum conditions of 21.3 h soaking time, 50 min drying time, pH
The drying time after in situ sol-gel process on OPF was the most significant independent variable on content, while silica residue from Termogravimetric Analysis (TGA) was highly influenced by molar ra Tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) to water
Summary
Natural fibers are gaining significant attention for their potential in replacing the conventional synthetic fibers for the fiber reinforcement into polymeric composites in terms of environmental benefits, high stiffness-to-weight ratio, and relatively inexpensive feed stocks [1,2,3]. Oil palm fiber (OPF) is one of the major contributors to the global biomass fibers generation, which consists of huge amounts of empty fruit bunches, mesocarp fibers, palm kernel shells, oil palm trunks, and oil palm fronds [9,10,11]. The OPF which contains 48 to 65% cellulose has specific modulus and high specific strength comparable to glass fibers [13,14,15]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
