Polyethylene-Oil Palm Frond Composites-A Preliminary Study on Mechanical Properties

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Abstract
The mechanical properties of composites consisting of high density polyethylene (HDPE) and oil palm frond (OPF) have been investigated. Three sizes of OFF at different filler loadings were compounded using a single screw compounder. Modulus of rupture (MOR) of the OPF-HDPE composites decreased with increasing filler loading. Samples with smaller size particles displayed higher MOR as compared to the larger ones. The incorporation of OFF into polymer matrix has also reduced the tensile and impact properties of the composites. This has been attributed to poor filler dispersion and increasing tendency for filler-filler interactions as filler loading increases. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has revealed that the OPF particles embedded in the matrix were in the form of irregular shaped-fibre bundles and the failure occurred through extensive fibre bundle pull-out and debonding. This failure mechanism has provided qualitative evidence for the poor tensile and impact strengths of the composites.