THE EFFECT OF FILLER CONTENT AND SIZE ON THE MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES OFPOLYPROPYLENE OIL PALM WOOD FLOUR COMPOSITES/

The effect of filler content and size on the mechanical properties of a new type of wood-based filler, oil palm wood hour (OPWF), in polypro pylene (PP) was investigated. Four sizes of OPWF filler at different f iller loadings were compounded using a twin screw compounder. All size s of filler showed a similar trend of declining mechanical properties with increasing filler content. In terms of size, the composites fille d with larger-sized filler showed higher modulus, tensile and impact s trengths, particularly at high filler loadings. The OPWF used in this study was not treated with any coupling agent.