Optimisation of recycled polypropylene reinforced with oil palm empty fruit bunch (opefb) and fly ash for enhancement of thermal and flame-retardant properties

• Main Author: Nur Athirah, Mohamad Radzi
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2022
• Subjects: TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General); TP Chemical technology
• Online Access: http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/37666/1/ir.Optimisation%20of%20recycled%20polypropylene%20reinforced%20with%20oil%20palm%20empty%20fruit%20bunch%20%28opefb%29%20and%20fly%20ash%20for%20enhancement%20of%20thermal%20and%20flame-retardant%20properties.pdf; http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/37666/
• Institution: Universiti Malaysia Pahang

The rapid growth of environmental awareness in using environmentally friendly materials has been increased worldwide. This matter is triggered by the unsustainability of petroleum sources to produce synthetic/petroleum-based products for prolonged use. In addition, the disposal, recyclable, and non-utilised of the wastes generated by polypropylene (RPP), fly ash (FA), oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) have caused the major problem for the environment. Hence, making eco-friendly products from these wastes is a new platform to produce sustainable products for the future. The possibility of mixing the right ratio to make a good flame-retardant composite was studied in this research work. This research was conducted by performing the pre-treatment of the fillers, which are OPEFB fibre and FA. The alkaline pre-treatments were performed by using sodium hydroxide with concentrations of 1,2,3,4 and 5 wt/v% on OPEFB and 5,10,15 and 20 wt/wt% for FA. The soaking time used to treat fiber were (99 minutes), with fiber to solution ratio 1:20 (5g in 100ml) by using ultrasound bath (CREST-Ultrasonics) at 80℃. The fly ash was submerged in NaOH solution at room temperature (27°C) and stirred for about 30 minutes at 750 rpm using FAVORITE Stirring Hotplate (HS0707V2). The fly ash to sodium hydroxide ratio utilised was 1:1.2. (for fly ash activation). The alkaline treatments were conducted for OPEFB fibre to make the changes on the fibre surface and elimination of silica for pore enlargement. In the meantime, FA changes were monitored for alteration of the FA surface, such as the surface area, pore diameter, and pore volume. The maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MAPP) was employed to enhance the interfacial connection between the fillers and the matrix as a combined poly bond agent. A few analyses were used to determine the ideal results of the alkaline concentration used to modify the fillers of the surfaces, such as Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersion X-Ray (SEM-EDX), Barret-Joyner-Halenda (BJH), and Brunauer-Emmett-teller (BET). Next, the composite preparation was compounded and moulded by using extruder, hot and cold press machines. The composites were prepared with various ratios of RPP, FA, OPEFB, and MAPP by using Design of Experiment (DOE) software. Few analyses such as Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersion X-Ray (SEM-EDX), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), tensile strength (ASTM D3039), Limited Oxygen Index (ASTM D2863), and Horizontal Burning test (UL94HB) were used to obtain the thermal, mechanical and flame properties. The optimum result of fillers selected for composite preparation was 5w/v% of OPEFB and 20w/w% of FA. The optimum blend formulation of this composite was based on the thermal analysis response by using Design of Experiment (DOE) software which was OPEFB:RPP:FA: MAPP (1.24:59.79:32.00:7.00). The mechanical properties were improved with maximum stress 20.53MPa, break force sensitivity 2026.73N, tensile strength 2.48Mpa, break force sensitivity 349.83N. Meanwhile for the flammability test, the composite was classified as self-extinguishing material with UL94HB test. Formulation of compatibilised recycled polypropylene reinforced with OPEFB and FA on thermal and flame-retardant is thought to have the potential to replace synthetic fibre in building insulation.