The Effect of Flame Retardants on the Mechanical Properties of Oil Palm Fibre Filled Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene

Loh, Jun Han (2022) The Effect of Flame Retardants on the Mechanical Properties of Oil Palm Fibre Filled Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene. Final Year Project (Bachelor), Tunku Abdul Rahman University College.

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Abstract

Fibre reinforced polymer matrix composites can be optimized to combine high strength, stiffness, and toughness, yet low in density. To increase the heat resistance of a polymer is with additions such as reinforcements and fibres. Oil palm fibre filled Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) are natural fibre composites (NFC) with low densities, non-abrasiveness and biodegradability but without refinement, shortcomings like weaker impact strength and durability will expose. Therefore, the objective of this research is to fabricate OPF filled ABS composites through melt blending and to study the effects of flame retardants on the mechanical properties of the OPF filled ABS composites. Besides, to characterize the fracture surface of the OPF filled ABS composites after tensile test and to determine if improvement on mechanical properties is observed. The OPF filled ABS composites fabrication is divided into three major parts, they are melt blending, hot compression and cutting. After fabricating the specimens, they will be tensile tested utilizing the GOTECH 2-tonnes universal machine to determine their ultimate tensile strength, elongation at break and elastic modulus. Next, the fracture surface will be characterised using the scanning electron microscope. From the gathered data, it has proven that 20% OPF 80% ABS has the strongest ultimate tensile strength ranging with deterioration of 6% to 20% with addition of flame retardants into the composite. Due to the addition of flame retardants the mechanical properties of OPF filled ABS composite has been lowered compared to the composite without flame retardants.