The Development of Composite Material Board from Coconut Fiber reinforce Polyethylene for Construction Materials and OTOP

Research Title : The Development of Composite Material Board from Coconut Fiber reinforce Polyethylene for Construction Materials and OTOP

Researcher : Mr.Ekarut Ruaryruay

Office :

Research Grants : Research and Innovation for Transfer technology to Rural Community Project

Year : 2008

Abstract

                The objective of this research is to study the mechanical properties of the composite material that made from recycled Polyethylene (PE) mixed coconut fiber and recycled Polyethylene (PE) mixed coconut coir powder. The ratios of PE to coconut fiber and PE to coconut coir powder are 70:30, 60:40 and 50:50.  Coconut fiber and coconut coir powder are ground into small pieces and sift them pass the No.40, No.50, No.60 and No.100 sieve Subsequently, these materials are in the two rolls mill and formed to plate of  30 ×30×0.50 cm by hot rolling. The mechanical properties of the tested in accordance with ASTM standard.

The results of testing reveal that higher content of PE effect to increase tensile, impact and flexural strengths, whereas an increase of coconut fiber leads to increase in surface hardness. The finer size of coconut fiber results in hinger tensile strength, flexural strength and surface hardness. However, the impact strength is very low when compare with the high density PE. The capacity of tensile strength, flexural strength and surface hardness are same in both composite material boards and little more than pure PE board, whereas capacity of impact strength of pure PE board is less than PE-coconut fiber board but more than PE-coconut coir powder board.

With these results, the both composite material boards can develop into furnishing panels cause of its color and texture resemble to the natural one. These product can advance to be OTOP

Keywords: Coconut Fiber, Coconut coir powder, Polyethylene, Composite Material Board