PREPARATION AND PROPERTIES OF OIL PALM FROND COMPOSITE BASED ON METHACRYLIC SILANE AND GLYCIDYL METHACRYLATE

Oil palm fronds (OFF) meal was reacted with gamma-methacryloxypropyltr imethoxysilane. The adduct formed was mixed with glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) prior to hot pressing. Well conformed boards were produced by t he process. All the silane-modified samples performed well in all the tests conducted. Modulus of rupture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE) and impact strength were reduced after some levels of chemical loadin g (weight per cent gain, WPG) were reached which might be due to less OFF fibre content. All modified samples also showed greater dimensiona l stability than the untreated samples in water, toluene and chlorofor m tests. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.