Sains Malaysiana 40(7)(2011): 737–742

Loading Effect of Aluminum Hydroxide onto the Mechanical, Thermal Conductivity, Acoustical and Burning Properties of the Palm-based Polyurethane Composites

(Kesan Penambahan Aluminum Hidroksida ke atas Sifat Mekanik, Kekonduksian Terma, Akustik dan Kebakaran Komposit Poliuretana Sawit)

Nor Rabbi’atul ‘Adawiyah Norzali & Khairiah Haji Badri*

School of Chemical Science and Food Technology, Faculty of Science and Technology

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor D.E. Malaysia

Khairiah Haji Badri*

Polymer Research Centre, Faculty of Science and Technology

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor D.E. Malaysia

Mohd Zaki Nuawi

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering

Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

43600 Bangi, Selangor D.E., Malaysia

Received: 23 October 2009 / Accepted: 28 October 2010

ABSTRACT

Effects of aluminium hydroxide (ATH) addition on the properties of palm-based polyurethane composites were investigated. The hybrid composites were prepared by mixing 10 wt% of oil palm empty fruit bunch fiber (EFB) with ATH at varying amount of 2, 4 and 6 wt% of the overall mass of the resin. The compression stress and modulus gave the highest values of 575 and 2301 kPa, respectively at 2 wt% loading of ATH. The compression stress and modulus decreased drastically at 4 wt% (431 kPa and 1659 kPa, respectively) and further decreased at 6 wt% ATH (339 and 1468 kPa, respectively). However, the burning rate is inversely proportional to the loading percentage where the highest burning rate was observed at 2 wt% ATH. Sound absorption analysis indicated a large absorption coefficient at high frequency (4000 Hz) for all samples. The highest absorption coefficient was obtained from PU-EFB/ATH with 4 wt% ATH.

Keywords: Acoustic property; aluminum hydroxide; burning property; mechanical property; polyurethane composites

ABSTRAK

Kesan penambahan aluminium hidroksida (ATH) terhadap sifat komposit hibrid poliuretana (PU) berasaskan sawit telah dikaji. Komposit hibrid PU disediakan dengan menambahkan 10% mengikut berat serabut tandan kosong kelapa sawit (EFB) diikuti dengan penambahan ATH pada peratus penambahan divariasikan pada 2, 4 dan 6% mengikut berat keseluruhan resin. Tegasan dan modulus mampatan adalah pada nilai tertinggi pada penambahan 2% ATH iaitu masing-masing 338 kPa dan 2209 kPa. Pada 4% ATH, tegasan dan modulus mampatan menurun kepada masing-masing 431 dan 1659 kPa dan semakin menurun dengan penambahan 6% ATH kepada masing-masing 379 dan 1468 kPa. Walau bagaimanapun, kadar kebakaran adalah berkadar songsang dengan peratus pengisian dengan kadar pembakaran tertinggi berlaku pada 2%bt ATH. Analisis serapan bunyi menunjukkan pekali serapan yang tinggi pada frekuensi tinggi (4000 Hz) untuk semua sampel dengan PU-EFB/ATH (4% ATH) menunjukkan pekali serapan tertinggi.

Kata kunci: Aluminum hidroksida; komposit poliuretana; sifat akustik; sifat kebolehbakaran; sifat mekanik

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*Corresponding author; email: kaybadri@ukm.my