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NORUL IZANI MA, PARIDAH MT, MOHD NOR MY & ANWAR UMK. 2013. Properties of medium- density fibreboard (MDF) made from treated empty fruit bunch of oil palm. The objective of this study was to evaluate the physical and mechanical properties of experimental medium density fibreboard (MDF) panels manufactured from empty fruit bunch (EFB) of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis). Panels were made from EFB treated with boiling water, soaked in sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or their combination by using phenol formaldehyde at 8, 10 and 12% based on oven-dry weight of fibre. Mechanical and physical properties including modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR), internal bond strength, thickness swelling and water absorption of the samples were determined according to the Malaysian Standards (MS 1787:2005). Based on results of this work, it seems that EFB can be used as raw material to manufacture value-added MDF with accepteble properties based on the standards. Panels made from fibres treated with NaOH in 12% resin produced the highest MOR (31.4 MPa). Fibres treated with the combination of NaOH and boiling water resulted in panels with reduced bending properties. All types of treatments enhanced dimensional stability of panels. All treated EFB fibres were less sensitive when exposed to alkaline condition compared with acidic condition.
Keywords: EFB, mechanical properties, dimensional stability, resin level
NORUL IZANI MA, PARIDAH MT, MOHD NOR MY & ANWAR UMK. 2013. Ciri-ciri papan gentian berketumpatan sederhana (MDF) daripada tandan kosong kelapa sawit yang dirawat. Objektif kajian ini adalah untuk menilai ciri-ciri fizikal dan mekanik papan gentian berketumpatan sederhana (MDF) yang diperbuat daripada tandan kosong kelapa sawit (EFB)(Elaeis guineensis). Panel ini diperbuat daripada bahan mentah yang dirawat dengan air yang dididih, rendaman dalam natrium hidroksida (NaOH) atau kombinasi kedua-dua rawatan dan direkat menggunakan fenol formaldehid (PF) pada tiga kepekatan iaitu 8%, 10% dan 12% berdasarkan berat kering gentian. Ciri-ciri mekanik dan fizikal termasuk modulus kekenyalan (MOE), modulus kepecahan (MOR), kekuatan ikatan dalaman, pembengkakan ketebalan dan serapan air sampel dinilai berdasarkan Piawaian Malaysia MS 1787:2005. Berdasarkan keputusan yang diperoleh daripada kajian ini didapati EFB dapat digunakan sebagai bahan mentah untuk membuat MDF dengan ciri yang mematuhi Piawaian Malaysia. Panel yang diperbuat daripada gentian yang dirawat dengan NaOH dan direkat menggunakan 12% fenol formaldehid menghasilkan nilai purata MOR yang tertinggi...