| dc.description.abstract | The use of unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) and oil palm frond (OPF) fiber as particle
board is one of the efforts to increase the value of the oil palm fronds, which have only
been considered as waste in oil palm plantations. The aim of this study is to determine
the effect of soaking the filler using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and the ratio of the
composition of the filler to the adhesive on the physical and mechanical properties of
polyester particleboard filled with oil palm frond fiber (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.). This
research consisted of several stages, namely the supply of OPF filler, the manufacture
of particle board and analysis of the physical and mechanical properties of the particle
board. The OPF were first chopped and then soaked in a solution of 0%, 15% and 30%
NaOH for 24 hours, filtered to collect the residue. The OPF fiber was then dried using
the oven. The OPF fiber was then mixed with polyester adhesive in a ratio of 60:40;
70:30; 80:20; and 90:10 (w/w) and 1% methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (MEKPO)
catalyst from the adhesive mass. The mixture was then poured into molds and molded
using compression molding. Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) analysis, Scanning
Electron Microscopy (SEM), density, thickness swelling, Modulus of Rupture (MOR),
Modulus of Elasticity (MOE) and impact strength were performed on the product. The
FTIR results showed that there was a missing C=C group in the 30% NaOH
delignification treatment which indicated that lignin degradation had occurred. The
SEM results show that in general the adhesive distribution tends to be even. The best
physical and mechanical test values in all tests were obtained on particle board with a
ratio of filler composition with adhesive 60:40 without delignification treatment with
the density value is 0.4948 g/cm3, the thickness swelling value is 3.6676%, the MOE
value is 642, 9424 MPa, the MOR value is 5.3849 MPa, and the impact strength value
is 1389 J/m2. | en_US |
