title: The influence of green surface modification of oil palm mesocarp fiber by superheated steam on the mechanical properties and dimensional stability of oil palm mesocarp fiber/poly(butylene succinate) biocomposite.
abstract: In this paper, superheated steam (SHS) was used as cost effective and green processing technique to modify oil palm mesocarp fiber (OPMF) for biocomposite applications. The purpose of this modification was to promote the adhesion between fiber and thermoplastic. The modification was carried out in a SHS oven at various temperature (200-230 °C) and time (30-120 min) under normal atmospheric pressure. The biocomposites from SHS-treated OPMFs and poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) at a weight ratio of 70:30 were prepared by melt blending technique. The mechanical properties and dimensional stability of the biocomposites were evaluated. This study showed that the SHS treatment increased the roughness of the fiber surface due to the removal of surface impurities and hemicellulose. The tensile, flexural and impact properties, as well as dimensional stability of the biocomposites were markedly enhanced by the presence of SHS-treated OPMF. Scanning electron microscopy analysis showed improvement of interfacial adhesion between PBS and SHS-treated OPMF. This work demonstrated that SHS could be used as an eco-friendly and sustainable processing method for modification of OPMF in biocomposite fabrication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia. yoonyeetyy84@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Yoon Yee
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Then
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia. norazowa@upm.edu.my.
authors.forename: Nor Azowa
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia. norhazlin@upm.edu.my.
authors.forename: Norhazlin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zainuddin
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioprocess Technology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia. hidayah@upm.edu.my.
authors.forename: Hidayah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ariffin
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Centre For Defence Foundation Studies, National Defence University of Malaysia, Sungai Besi Camp, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. wanmdzin@upnm.edu.my.
authors.forename: Wan Md Zin Wan
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Yunus
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia. chieng891@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Buong Woei
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Chieng
mesh_terms: D028023:Arecaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D002072:Butylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D055772:Green Chemistry Technology / Q000379:methods; D006868:Hydrolysis; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry*; D013227:Steam; D013696:Temperature; D013718:Tensile Strength
chemical_list: D002072:Butylene Glycols; D011108:Polymers; D011134:Polysaccharides; D013227:Steam; C089797:bionole; C007916:hemicellulose