Effect of Hot Water Treatment on Physical and Mechanical Properties of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch Fibre Cement Boards

Vollständiger Abstract

Worum geht es in dieser Arbeit?

The growing demand for sustainable construction materials has increased interest in fibre–cement composites reinforced with natural fibres. Oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) is an abundant agricultural by-product with strong potential for fibre cement boards. However, its hydrophilic nature and weak fibre–matrix adhesion limit dimensional stability and mechanical performance. While hot water treatment has been shown to improve fibre compatibility, most studies have focused only on untreated, 60°C, and 100°C conditions, leaving the effects of intermediate temperatures insufficiently explored. This study investigates the effect of hot water treatment at six temperatures (room temperature, 60°C, 70°C, 80°C, 90°C, and 100°C) for 60 minutes on the physical and mechanical properties of OPEFB fibre cement boards. Treatment effectiveness was evaluated using water absorption, thickness swelling, density, modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity, and internal bonding tests, with standard sample dimensions of 100 × 100 mm, 50 × 50 mm, and 300 × 50 mm. The results showed that hot water treatment significantly enhanced dimensional stability and mechanical performance. Boards treated at 100°C exhibited the lowest water absorption (25.14%) and thickness swelling (0.39%), as well as the highest modulus of rupture (5.23 N/ mm²), modulus of elasticity (4180.50 N/mm²), internal bonding strength (1.22 N/mm²), and density (1321.72 kg/m³). Treatments at intermediate temperatures (70–90°C) also produced substantial improvements, indicating that effective fibre modification can be achieved below boiling temperature. These findings demonstrate that hot water treatment is a cost-effective, solvent-free, and environmentally sustainable approach for enhancing OPEFB fibre cement boards, supporting their potential as eco-friendly construction materials.