Polypropylene Substitution by Chitosan on Polypropylene-Empty Fruit Bunch Fiber of Oil Palm Microfibril Termoplastic Composites

Abstract

The physical, mechanical properties and morphology of chitosan substitued polypropylene (PP) on polypropylene-empty fruit bunch fiber of oil palm microfibril termoplastic composites have been studied. The effects of size and percentation of chitosan were investigated. Results showed that the density of the composites increased with increasing chitosan content. At the optimum chitosan percentage of 10% with the smaller size of chitosan 20 mesh to 40 mesh could produced composites with density, thickness swelling and water absorption lower than control and other compositions also modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity, tensile strength and elongation were higher than control and other compositions. The tensile strength and elongation decreased but the modulus or rupture from composites increased with increasing chitosan content. In all size variations and concentrations of chitosan was resulted thermoplastic composites with elongation properties above the standard minimum elongation from composites polypropylene (PP)-fiber glass (FG) applied to the components of HONDA motorcycle type LR22E PP-FG 10% Honda Engineering Standard (HES) C 227 for 2%.