Oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) is one of the potential natural fibre that can be used as an alternative to synthetic fibre. EFB was heat-treated at 180°C using vacuum oven for 1 h, extrusion compounded with high-density polyethylene at 10%, 20% and 30% weight fraction. The composites were injection moulded into dumb-bell (ASTM D-638) and bar-shaped specimens (ASTM E-23). The composites were exposed to different environments which are soil burial and indoor environment for 3 months. The effects of conditioning on mechanical and thermal properties were studied relative to the dry as moulded samples as a standard. It was found that the mechanical and thermal properties of composites under soil burial conditions were reduced. Tensile modulus of 30% untreated fibre loading reduced from 1.56 GPa for dry to 1.03 GPa for soil burial conditions, respectively. The same reduction was also found in the flexural modulus. However, the value of treated fibre composites was found slightly higher compared to untreated fibre composites. The treated fibre composites showed more resistance towards the environment condition. Composites made from heat-treated EFB show improved thermal stability, expected due to better compatibility between fibres and matrices, thus lowering the moisture intake, despite the conditions of the samples. However, indoor exposure has no significant effect on the thermal and mechanical properties of composites.

中文翻译：

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调理对热处理油棕空果串/高密度聚乙烯复合材料力学和热性能的影响

油棕空果串 (EFB) 是一种潜在的天然纤维，可用作合成纤维的替代品。EFB 使用真空烘箱在 180°C 下热处理 1 小时，与重量分数为 10%、20% 和 30% 的高密度聚乙烯挤出复合。将复合材料注射成型为哑铃（ASTM D-638）和棒状试样（ASTM E-23）。复合材料暴露于不​​同的环境，土埋和室内环境3个月。相对于作为标准的干燥模塑样品，研究了调节对机械和热性能的影响。结果表明，土埋条件下复合材料的力学和热性能降低。30% 未处理纤维负载的拉伸模量从干燥的 1.56 GPa 降低到土壤埋藏条件的 1.03 GPa，分别。在弯曲模量中也发现了相同的降低。然而，与未经处理的纤维复合材料相比，经处理的纤维复合材料的价值略高。处理过的纤维复合材料对环境条件表现出更强的抵抗力。由热处理 EFB 制成的复合材料显示出更高的热稳定性，这是由于纤维和基质之间更好的相容性，从而降低了水分摄入，尽管样品的条件如何。然而，室内暴露对复合材料的热性能和力学性能没有显着影响。由热处理 EFB 制成的复合材料显示出更高的热稳定性，这是由于纤维和基质之间更好的相容性，从而降低了水分摄入，尽管样品的条件如何。然而，室内暴露对复合材料的热性能和力学性能没有显着影响。由热处理 EFB 制成的复合材料显示出更高的热稳定性，这是由于纤维和基质之间更好的相容性，从而降低了水分摄入，尽管样品的条件如何。然而，室内暴露对复合材料的热性能和力学性能没有显着影响。