Physical Characterization of Non-Woven Treated and Untreated Palm Empty Fruit Bunch Layered by Fibreglass as an Interior Insulation Material

Abdul Murad  Zainal Abidin; Zamil Hisham  Abdul Rashid; Nik Normunira  Mat Hassan; Noraini  Marsi; Abdul Mutalib  Leman; Mohamad Fikri  Mohamad Yunus; Mehgalaa  Ravichandran

doi:10.37934/ard.127.1.137149

Authors

Abdul Murad Zainal Abidin JKR Centre of Excellence for Engineering and Technology (CREaTE), 78000 Alor Gajah, Melaka, Malaysia
Zamil Hisham Abdul Rashid JKR Centre of Excellence for Engineering and Technology (CREaTE), 78000 Alor Gajah, Melaka, Malaysia
Nik Normunira Mat Hassan Bamboo Research Centre (Bamboo-RC), Faculty of Engineering Technology, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Pagoh Higher Education Hub, Pagoh, 84600 Muar, Johor, Malaysia
Noraini Marsi Faculty of Engineering Technology, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Pagoh Higher Education Hub, Pagoh, 84600 Muar, Johor, Malaysia
Abdul Mutalib Leman Faculty of Engineering Technology, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Pagoh Higher Education Hub, Pagoh, 84600 Muar, Johor, Malaysia
Mohamad Fikri Mohamad Yunus JKR Centre of Excellence for Engineering and Technology (CREaTE), 78000 Alor Gajah, Melaka, Malaysia
Mehgalaa Ravichandran Faculty of Engineering Technology, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Pagoh Higher Education Hub, Pagoh, 84600 Muar, Johor, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37934/ard.127.1.137149

Keywords:

Palm empty fruit bunch (PEFB), silane coupling agents, thermal conductivity, composite fibre, hydrophobic, thermal decomposition, bio-based insulation

Abstract

Palm empty fruit bunch (PEFB) fibres hold potential as a natural material for insulation, offering an alternative to the commonly used fibreglass in HVAC system ducting. Fibreglass (FG) in commercial insulation materials contributes to issues such as unpleasant environmental noise, which can have harmful effects on communication, health and overall quality of life. This study aims to prepare nonwoven untreated and treated PEFB with FG at different ratios using a silane coupling agent treatment. The nonwoven materials are produced through a combination of a needle punching machine and hot compress technique and various characteristics, including thermal decomposition, functional groups, thermal conductivity and water contact angles, are examined.