Natural Fiber Reinforced Polymer for the Application of Sports Equipment using Mold Casting Method

Abstract

This study is focusing on fabrication of epoxy composite where oil palm empty fruit bunch is used as reinforcement agent. The aim of this research is to study the suitable duration for the alkaline treatment on the oil palm empty fruit bunch fiber towards their mechanical properties, physical properties and morphology of sample. Mold casting method is a method where the resin is poured into the mold to solidify. Different duration of oil palm empty fruit bunch fiber used which untreated, 12 hours treated and 24 hours treated. The treatment process had been done at room temperature of 27°C. Composite then fabricated by mixing the oil palm empty fruit bunch fiber and epoxy at 5 wt% of fiber and cured at room temperature for 24 hours to complete the process. The mechanical properties of the sample being tested by conducting flexural test and impact test. Studies of physical properties of the sample also conducted by density and porosity test. Morphology test also conducted to study the surface morphology of the tested sample. Flexural strength of the composite had been produced is between 46.77 MPa - 83.63 MPa with density and porosity at 1.1379 g/cm3-1.1527 g/cm3 and 1.57% - 2.02%. Impact strength produced by those composite is between 0.132 J/mm2 and 1.1527 J/mm2. The oil palm empty fruit bunch fiber/epoxy composite that went through 24 hours fiber treatment shows high potential to be used as reinforcement to epoxy as suitable material for sports equipment.