Effect of Water Absorption on the Mechanical Properties of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch (OPEFB) Reinforced Polymer Composite


Year : 2025 | Volume : 15 | Issue : 01 | Page : 11-26
    By

    Nur Alia Shazmin Binti Zakaria,

  • Harvin Raj Ravindra Raj,

  1. Research Scholar, Department of Mechanical Engineering MILA University, MIU Boulevard, Putra Nilai, 71800 Nilai,, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
  2. Research Scholar, Department of Mechanical Engineering MILA University, MIU Boulevard, Putra Nilai, 71800 Nilai,, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia

Abstract

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Natural fibres are progressively picking up attention as their applications are diversified into multiple industries which includes the automotive industry where lightweight materials are of utmost importance. The demand for natural fibre reinforced polymer matrix composites was nevermore as predominant as it is today. Oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) fibres are natural fibres and contribute to an eco-friendlier substitute when compared to synthetic fibres. These fibres are obtainable in a very large quantity, are inexhaustible, nontoxic, and due to their low cost can best be suited to replace synthetic fibres to significantly reduce the weight of the vehicle thus decreasing the fuel consumption. In this experimental research the OPEFB reinforced polymer composite was fabricated to study the effect of water absorption on its mechanical properties. The OPEFB polymer composite was fabricated by using a 5% Mf of OPEFB along with an epoxy matrix. A hot compression moulding machine was used to fabricate the OPEFB polymer composite. The specimens were subjected to a water absorption test where they were immersed in water for a variation of days. After each number of days, a tensile and hardness test was conducted on the specimens. When comparing between the variation of days, it was observed that as the number of days increased it displayed a fluctuating trend towards the tensile properties while a deteriorating trend was observed for the hardness properties of the specimens that were subjected to the water absorption test. The hydrophilic nature, distribution, orientation and size of this fibre was the main contributor towards the increase of water absorption in the composite. From the experimental research conducted regarding the OPEFB polymer composite it is recommended that the fabricated OPEFB polymer composite could be used as a suitable substitute for synthetic fibres as a replacement for the interior materials of vehicles in the automotive industry.

Keywords: Oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB), polymer composite, epoxy matrix, water absorption test, mechanical properties

[This article belongs to Journal of Materials & Metallurgical Engineering (jomme)]

How to cite this article:
Nur Alia Shazmin Binti Zakaria, Harvin Raj Ravindra Raj. Effect of Water Absorption on the Mechanical Properties of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch (OPEFB) Reinforced Polymer Composite. Journal of Materials & Metallurgical Engineering. 2025; 15(01):11-26.
How to cite this URL:
Nur Alia Shazmin Binti Zakaria, Harvin Raj Ravindra Raj. Effect of Water Absorption on the Mechanical Properties of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch (OPEFB) Reinforced Polymer Composite. Journal of Materials & Metallurgical Engineering. 2025; 15(01):11-26. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/jomme/article=2025/view=0


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Regular Issue Subscription Original Research
Volume 15
Issue 01
Received 28/11/2024
Accepted 21/12/2024
Published 03/01/2025
164

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