Analysis to Determine the Suitable Coating Materials For Environmental Friendly Composites From Oil Palm

The growing demand of crude palm oil (CPO) in local and world markets led to the increasing palm oil production and the expansion of oil palm plantations in Indonesia .Together with the increasing CPO production the wastes generated at palm oil industry are in growing as well . One of the solid waste (biomass) at the palm oil mill is empty fruit bunches of oil palm (EFB) . The utilization of EFB for environmental friendly composites (bio composites) can reduce the amount of this biomass which so far has less uses for technical sectors . The good properties of natural fibers of EFB for technical applications are such as high mechanical strength, good heat resistance and as lightweight material , good resistance electrical conductivity. However , bio composite has the disadvantage since this material is not water proof, neither humidity resistant . So that for its implementation as technical products the suitable coating material is necessary . This paper focuses on the production of bio composite s, its bending test and its water resistance test in kind of soaking test . The coating materials used for this research were laminate sheet (plastic) , bee wax, car nauba wax and craft glue (synthetic ) . The test results indicate that the coating using laminate sheet showed suitable results than the other of coating materials : bee wax, carnauba wax, craft glu

Environmental Friendly Lightweight Material from Natural Fibers of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch

Indonesia is the most producer of crude palm oil (CPO) worldwide with production more that 25 million tons in 2013. Through increasing production of CPO the wastes generated are growing up as well. The empty fruit bunch of oil palm (EFB) is one of the solid waste (biomass) which is generated at the palm oil mill. Its amount is equivalent to the CPO production, but only about 50% of its weight are good fibers for further usage as industrial raw material. The EFB fiber consists an interesting honey comb/lightweight structure. By mixing the EFB natural fiber with bio binding agent based on potato the environmental friendly materials (biocomposites) can be produced which are 100% biodegadrable. The biocomposites with 2 mm thickness have strengthness about 7 GPa according to the 3 points bending test standard of DIN 53 457. After coating process the environmental friendly lightweight materials with density less than 0 .4 g/cm 3 will be ready to be implemented for different technical applications