Effect of Fiber Surface Treatment on Mechanical Properties of Polylactic Acid/Empty Fruit Bunch Fiber Biocomposites

Renewable resourced green biocomposites are currently receiving much attention due to their environmental advantages. Therefore, the aim of this research is study the effect of fiber surface treatment on the mechanical properties of polylactic acid (PLA) biocomposite in order to produce a green biocomposite. Experiments were conducted by surface treatment of empty fruit bunch fiber using two methods, sodium hydroxide and silane. Both treated and untreated fibers were then melt compounded with PLA and mechanical properties of the biocomposite was studied. The results showed that silane treatment improved the reinforced biocomposite mechanical properties such as tensile strength by 33% and flexural modulus by 44% compared with untreated fiber reinforced biocomposites. This is due to the silane functional groups that act as a bridge between the PLA and fiber.