Strength of polymeric foam composite reinforced oil palm empty fruit bunch fiber subjected to impact load

Abstract

The subjects of this study were polymeric foam (PF) composites reinforced oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) fiber to dynamic load. OPEFB is waste of Palm Oil Mill which large number. This waste is seen has good potential to be harnessed and developed to become the engineering materials. This composite is processed with mixing of polyurethane (PU) and polyester resin. The paper aims to find the density of PF composite reinforced OPEFB fiber and to investigate the mechanical properties due to dynamic load. The specimens were prepared following the ASTM D1621-00 impact test standard. The method of making the test specimen is done by casting. The ratio of PU and mixing of polyester resin and OPEFB is 45 %: 65%. The results are gotten density 630 kg/m3, at a level test of 0.5 m the magnitude of the tension that occurs is 226.68 kPa, the average energy absorbed is 75.20 Joule and at the level test of 1m, the magnitude of the tension is 261.43 kPa, the absorbed energy is 184, 68 Joule.