Effects of fiber loading and surface treatment on polylactic acid/empty fruit bunch fiber biocomposites

Demand for biocomposites are emerging in various applications from industrial to medical. A promising biocomposite is polylactic acid (PLA) and empty fruit bunch (EFB). Therefore, the effect of fiber loading on the mechanical and thermal properties of the biocomposite was investigated. The biocomposites were produced with untreated and treated fiber with loadings ranging from 10 weight (wt)% to 50 wt%. The treated EFB fiber was chemically treated with sodium hydroxide followed by silane to increase compatibility with PLA. Fabrication of the biocomposites was done using an internal mixer and preparation of testing specimens using hot press. It was observed that 10 wt% of fiber loading showed optimum mechanical and thermal values of the biocomposites. More than 10 wt% loading decreased the biocomposites properties as fiber agglomeration occurred within the matrix.