Mechanical and Water Absorption Properties of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch Reinforced Polyethylene Composites

The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of varying filler loading on mechanical properties and water absorption behaviour of the oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) reinforced with high density polyethylene (HDPE) composites. Particulate size OPEFB (425 µm) were compounded together with the matrix polymer and moulded into dog-bone shaped specimens using injection moulding machine at four levels of filler loading (0, 5, 10 and 15 wt.%). From the Scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation of the filler’s strand, the surface and texture changed after the drying process during the filler preparation stage.