Mechanical and flame-retardant properties of oil palm empty fruit bunches

Abstract

In this work we studied the mechanical and flame retardant properties of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches (OPEFB). Currently, the use of OPEFB waste in Indonesia is not optimal and the amount of the waste continues to increase every year. In this study, we optimized the flame retardant properties of non-woven OPEFB fibers. The OPEFB fiber was modified by making it non woven and treated in situ by immersing it with a mixture of NaOH and CaCl2 solution (flame retardant-1 treatment) and also a mixture of KOH and CaCl2 solution (flame retardant-2 treatment). In addition, the treated fibers were investigated for surface morphology and tested for thermal and tensile strength tests. Provision of flame retardant treatment in non woven fibers can improve flame retarding and mechanical properties. The objective of this study was optimization of flame retardant treatment of OPEFB. Non woven fiber which was treated with the first flame retardant with a concentration of 3 M did not burn for 12 seconds. The vertical flame test showed that the burning time until the fiber runs out was slowed to 39 seconds. Fibers treated with NaOH and CaCl2 with 3 M concentration also had the best tensile strength values of 8.13 MPa. In the morphology test, non-woven fibers with the first flame retardant treatment were better than non woven fibers with the second flame retardant treatment.