Eco-medium density fibreboard hybrid using empty fruit bunch and rubber wood fibre

Medium density fiberboard (MDF) based on empty fruit bunch (EFB) and rubber wood fibers were prepared using hot press compression moulding method and polyurethane as an adhesive in the board productions. The polyurethane was prepared from palm kernel oil based polyol, which were synthesis using direct polycondensation and transesterification methods. The boards were produced at different types of fibers composition and polyurethane content. There are three types of boards were prepared for this study which are MDF with untreated fiber, MDF with silane treated fiber and MDF with hybrid fiber. Chemical, physical and mechanical properties of the samples were characterized using FT-IR, thermogravimetry analysis, tensile test, hardness test, scanning electron microscope ( SEM ), density meter, impact test, flexural test, moisture content, water immersion and swelling test. The result showed that the mechanical properties of the board improved with increasing fiber loading. For hybrid board, an increasing of rubber wood fibers had increased the mechanical properties of the board. The boards which were prepared using silane treated fiber shown better mechanical properties than the untreated fibers. Flexural test shown that maximum modulus of elastic (MOE) was 4130 MPa for untreated fibers and 5612 MPa for treated fibers with maximum modulus of rupture (MOR) 56 MPa and 83 MPa respectively. An increasing fiber loading in the board has reduced the swelling thickness and water immersion of the board. The maximum tensile strength obtained is about 42 MPa with Young's Modulus 923 MPa. The overall result on impact strength shown that an increasing of both type of fiber loading has increased the impact strength up to 13.2 kJ/m2. SEM micrograph demonstrated that the addition of silane had improved the bonding between fibers and polyurethane.