Mechanical properties of hybrid composites reinforced with oil palm empty fruit bunches/fly ash

Abstract

The utilization of natural fiber from oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) into composite materials can increase the economic value of EFB waste. OPEFB fibers can be turned into useful materials by combining them with other polymers, such as polyester resins, to produce better composite boards. This study aimed to determine differences in weight percent of OPEFB fiber and fly ash on polyester composites on mechanical properties. OPEFB fiber was first treated with alkali to reduce the lignin content before mixed with polyester resin and pressed by a press machine for 24 hours. The open mold method was used in this study. In this study, four hybridization compositions of OPEFB fiber /fly ash filler were studied, which are 10/1 ,10/5, 20/1, and 20/5 (wt%) with polyester resin as a binder. Several mechanical properties such as tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural strength, and flexural modulus were studied in this research. Tensile and flexural strength properties were tested using a Universal Testing Machine (MTS). The results showed that the hybridized OPEFB/fly ash fiber composition affected the performance of the composite. OPEFB/fly ash fiber hybridization improved the composite performance compared to pure polyester composites. The highest tensile strength and tensile modulus were in the OPEFB/fly ash fiber hybridization (10/1). The flexural strength of OPEFB/fly ash fiber hybridization (20/1) and the flexural modulus at (20/5).