title: The effect of fiber bleaching treatment on the properties of poly(lactic acid)/oil palm empty fruit bunch fiber composites.
abstract: In this work, biodegradable composites from poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) fiber were prepared by melt blending method. Prior to mixing, the fiber was modified through bleaching treatment using hydrogen peroxide. Bleached fiber composite showed an improvement in mechanical properties as compared to untreated fiber composite due to the enhanced fiber/matrix interfacial adhesion. Interestingly, fiber bleaching treatment also improved the physical appearance of the composite. The study was extended by blending the composites with commercially available masterbatch colorant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia. marwahrayung@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Marwah
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rayung
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, 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, Serdang 43400, Malaysia. norhazlin@upm.edu.my.
authors.forename: Norhazlin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zainuddin
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia. zuhainis@upm.edu.my.
authors.forename: Wan Zuhainis
authors.initials: WZ
authors.lastname: Saad
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia. niar_02094@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Nur Inani Abdul
authors.initials: NI
authors.lastname: Razak
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia. chieng891@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Buong Woei
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Chieng
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D000073878:Palm Oil; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry*; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013818:Thermogravimetry; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D010938:Plant Oils; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D019344:Lactic Acid; C033616:poly(lactide); D000073878:Palm Oil; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide