MJAS Vol 27 No 3 (2023)

Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences, Vol 27 No 3 (2023): 626 - 640

MEDIUM DENSITY FIBREBOARD (MDF) FROM OIL PALM FIBRE:

A REVIEW

(Papan Gentian Kepadatan Sederhana daripada Fibre Kelapa Sawit: Satu Ulasan)

Roila Awang^*, Noorshamsiana Abdul Wahab, Zawawi Ibrahim, and Astimar Abdul Aziz

Malaysian Palm Oil Board, No.6, Persiaran Institusi, Bandar Baru Bangi, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia

^*Corresponding author: roila@mpob.gov.my

Received: 24 October 2022; Accepted: 11 March 2023; Published: 23 June 2023

Abstract

Rubberwood was favored for the production of medium density fibreboard (MDF). However, with the increasing demand for MDF, the limited supply of rubberwood and the need for biomass conservation, fibre boards made from agricultural residue are under investigation, though their dimensional stability is a challenge. Several researchers have used various methods and techniques for the improvement of MDF mechanical and physical properties. This article reviews the current process of MDF manufacturing and performance indexes that help find the optimum criteria for board fabrication. It was discovered that oil palm fibre has its own chemical composition and thus impacts the properties of board when used as an alternative raw material for MDF production. Thus, the mechanical and physical properties of fibreboard made from oil palm-based fibre were discussed in various hybridization ratios with different types of fibre and compared with rubberwood board. Furthermore, chemical treatments, such as alkaline treatment, acetylation or soaking, and washing with boiling water or removing parenchyma cells were also studied. It was found that the dimensions of the fibre affected the mechanical properties, such as modulus of rupture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE) and internal bonding (IB). The chemical changes in fibre that occur when oil palm fibre is chemically modified were also discussed and summarized.

Keywords: chemical composition, oil palm fibre, medium density fibreboard

Abstrak

Kayu getah digemari bagi pembuatan papan gentian kepadatan sederhana (MDF). Walau bagaimanapun, peningkatan permintaan bagi penghasilan MDF, bekalan kayu getah yang terhad, dan keperluan untuk pemuliharaan biojisim, papan gentian yang diperbuat daripada sisa pertanian sedang dikaji, walaupun terdapat cabaran terhadap kestabilan dimensinya. Beberapa penyelidik telah menggunakan pelbagai kaedah dan teknik bagi penambahbaikan sifat mekanikal dan fizikal MDF. Artikel ini mengkaji proses semasa dalam penghasilan MDF dan indeks prestasinya bagi membantu mengetahui kriteria optimum dalam pembuatan fabrikasi papan. Hasil kajian mendapati gentian kelapa sawit mempunyai komposisi kimianya sendiri dan seterusnya mempengaruhi sifat papan apabila digunakan sebagai bahan mentah alternatif bagi pembuatan MDF. Oleh itu, sifat mekanikal dan fizikal papan gentian yang diperbuat daripada gentian berasaskan kelapa sawit dalam pelbagai nisbah penghibridan bersama gentian yang berbeza jenis telah dibincangkan dan dibandingkan dengan papan kayu getah. Selain itu, rawatan kimia seperti rawatan alkali, asetilasi atau rendaman, dan mencuci dengan air mendidih atau mengeluarkan sel parenchyma juga turut dikaji. Kajian mendapati bahawa dimensi gentian mempengaruhi sifat mekanikal seperti modulus kepecahan (MOR), modulus kekenyalan (MOE), dan ikatan dalaman (IB). Perubahan kimia yang berlaku dalam gentian apabila gentian kelapa sawit diubah suai secara kimia turut dibincangkan dan diringkaskan.

Kata kunci: komposisi kimia, fibre kelapa sawit, papan gentian kepadatan sederhana

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