EFFECT OF COMPACTABILIZATION OF POLYMER ON THE PROPERTIES OF POLYURETHANE-PALM FIBER COMPOSITES

Polyurethane (PU) composites were prepared using a palm oil-based polyol, polycaprolactone (PCL) and Oil Palm Trunk (OPT) fiber. Glass transitions and degree of phase separation were derived from differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analyses (DMA) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) measurements. The analyses showed that between PU/PCL and OPT at higher Tg values. The different composition of polyurethane becomes more flexible at the higher polyol content in the polyurethane composite. FTIR spectra do not show the changes in presence of OPT fibers. Effect of PCL adding shows in the thermal degradation of polyurethane composite and influence the basic mechanism of biobased PU/OPT composite. The morphology of fractured surfaces of the composites, examined by a scanning electron microscope showed an improvement in the adhesion between the fiber and matrix was achieved. Compared to the characteristic features of neat PU material, more definite plastic deformation was observed in the fracture morphology of the PU composites.