Mansur Ahmad

Minimizing the environmental burden of oil palm trunk residues through the development of laminated veneer lumber products.

This paper discusses the results from the initiative that has been undertaken to utilize residues from oil palm re‐plantation, particularly the oil palm trunk (OPT) for the production of laminated veneer lumber (LVL). Efficient use of such residues is vital in order to minimize the environmental burdens associated with the disposal of the oil palm residues, thus ensuring the future growth of Malaysian palm oil industry. The bending and compression strength of the OPT LVL produced were accessed and compared with Malaysian oak (formerly known as rubberwood), timber species that is commonly used in the manufacture of furniture in Malaysia. Properties of OPT LVL were found almost comparable to solid Malaysian oak in terms of bending and compression strength. Combination of OPT veneers with several layers of Malaysian oak veneers during the process of LVL manufacturing has resulted in the improvement in bending and compression strength of the LVL as compared to those produced entirely from OPT. In addition, such practice also produced LVL board with far less variation in strength properties as compared to solid OPT properties. With further research and development embarked upon the gluability of the OPT materials, the overall performance of the OPT LVL could be improved for commercial utilization of OPT wastes in the near future. Development higher value‐added by‐products from oil palm industry residues, would benefit the industry through reduction of the overall environmental burden and would place it on a new environmentally sustainable platform.

The Bending Strength of Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF) from Different Ratios of Kenaf and Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches (EFB) Admixture for Light Weight Construction

The use of alternative materials from agriculture and plantation bio-mass has widely been researched especially for use in bio-composites. These bio-mass have been used in flour form as fillers, in fibre form as reinforcements and in both flour and fibre forms as bulking agents. These bio-mass not only enhanced the composites but also help to reduce the burden on natural fibres from the forests. Furthermore, these bio-mass fibres can be used as an alternative or supplementary raw material in composites such as fibre glass-polymer composites by replacing part of the synthetic fibres, if not all, depending on the final application of the finished composites. Combining one material with other materials provides a strategy for producing advanced composite materials that take advantage of the properties especially bending strength of both types of resources. It allows the researcher to design materials based on end-use requirements within a framework of cost, availability, recyclability, energy use, and environmental considerations. This paper reports on the bending strength of MDF from kenaf, oil palm EFB, and from admixtures of EFB and kenaf in different ratios. Production of composite material from these diversified resources will not only help to reduce the pressure on natural forests, it is also an alternative to overcome waste disposal problems in palm oil industries. The results indicate that kenaf and EFB could be mixed to produce MDF. The panel produced can be used for furniture components such as table tops and shelves, wall partitions and door panels.

Assessment in Screw Fixing Damages of Particleboard Surface: Difference in Screw Head and Self-Drilling Features

Construction of kitchen cabinet in Malaysia has grown in correspond to the increasing number of housing development. However, kitchen cabinet supplier is facing with major problem regarding to the increasing number of failure that occurred at the screw jointing during kitchen cabinet installation. Thus, the objective of the study is to observed the failure or damages during screw fixing on kitchen cabinet. It was observed that the screw head and driving features effect the number of damages and the failure mode type. Screw with pan-head type has the lowest number of damages compared with countersunk head screw. Selecting screw insertion technique is also important in order to reduce number of damages. Insertion technique with pilot-hole pre-drilling managed to reduce number of damages and type of failure modes occurred. With this paper, the kitchen cabinet manufacturer will be able to select the best screw with their preferable insertion technique in order to reduce the number of damages used for kitchen cabinet jointing.

Flexural and Impact Properties of Bamboo-Aluminum Sandwich Composites

Investigations have been conducted on the mechanical properties of bamboo-aluminum sandwich composites prototype fabricated in laboratory. Mechanical properties studied were flexural properties and impact properties. The failure mode related to each mechanical property was also observed and reported in this study.

Assessment on Screw Fixing Failure Mode for Kitchen Cabinet Particleboard

An observation during screw fixing activities on kitchen cabinet installation was carried out. In collaboration with Signature Kitchen Ptd. Ltd., a kitchen cabinet manufacturer in Malaysia, twenty-eight (28) houses in Kelang Valley, Malaysia were selected for the study. Almost all of the sites selected have shown some damages of the particleboard during the screw fixing activities. Generally, there were cracks, chip-off or swelling occurred in between the panel surface and the screw head edges. The damages observed on the screw joint during installation are in the form of split holes, loose holes and delamination. All damages then were identified for its type of failure mode especially at the screw-driving slot and particleboard surface. Six type of failure mode were identified, documented and discussed.

Physical properties of particleboard exposed to the kitchen environment in selected areas of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor

Kitchen cabinet main material, particleboard has shown some problems in quality during installation. The physical properties of the particleboard panel were tested for its moisture content, density and dimensional changes. In collaboration with Signature Kitchen Sdn. Bhd., twenty-eight (28) houses in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor were selected for the assessment. Six particleboard panels chose randomly from the twenty-eight sites were cut into specific dimension and exposed to the air-conditioned room environment (20°C and 65% RH) and on-site condition (31.3°C and 72% RH). Overall, moisture content was 7.73%, which is 40% lower than the maximum requirement and the density of the panel was 14% higher than the standard requirement. Meanwhile, the dimensional changes in thickness were 81% higher than length. In length, the mean changes was just 0.07 mm compared to the thickness, 0.36 mm. Therefore, all panels collected and tested have met the moisture content, density and dimensional changes specifications under the testing procedures defined by European Union (EN) standard BS EN 312:2003.

Screw-fixing damages and screw-holding performance in particleboard exposed to the kitchen environment in the selected area of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor

Particleboard being the main building material for kitchen cabinet in Malaysia houses has shown some installation problems. The damages observed during installation are in the form of split holes, loose holes and delamination. Almost all of the sites visited have shown some damages of the particleboard during the screw fixing activities. Screw-holding performance test was done in the same condition checked at the selected site. The medium-class to upper-class residential building in Malaysia is generally equipped with air-conditioning units in order to provide thermal comfort to its occupants. It is usually limited to living room, dining room and bedroom. However, kitchens are sometimes being controlled thermally with air-conditioning units and thus are included as the material conditioning in this study. In collaboration with Signature Kitchen Sdn. Bhd., twenty-eight (28) houses in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor selected were monitored and recorded for its average temperature and relative humidity (RH). The particleboards for the screw-holding performance tests were set to an air-conditioned room environment (20°C and 65% RH) and on-site environment (31.3°C and 72% RH). The screw-holding performance test were done on the face and edge surface. It was found that the properties have passed the European Standard (EN). It is concluded that the damages during installation was not cause by the kitchen environmental condition or the quality of particleboard.

Chemical and thermal characterization of Malaysian bamboo lignin (Beting & Semantan) extracted via soda pulping method

In this study, extraction of lignin from two Malaysian bamboo species known as Semantan (Gigantochloa scortechinii) and Beting (Gigantochloa levis) bamboos was carried via soda pulping method at elevated pressure and temperature in an autoclave. Bamboo lignin was then characterized in terms of functional groups available and thermal characteristics (Glass temperature and thermal decomposition). Spectroscopic analysis revealed that both Semantan lignin (SL) and Beting lignin (BL) have similarity in terms of functional groups with both lignin mainly composed of guaiacyl (G) and syringyl (S) type lignin. Glass temperature (Tg) of Semantan lignin (SL) and Beting lignin (BL) was equivalent to 80.83°C and 75.83°C with mass residue at 800°C was equivalent to 71.2% and 57.28% respectively. Relatively low glass temperature combined with high stability at elevated temperature makes bamboo lignin good potential raw materials for partial substitution of phenol in the development of lignin phenol formaldehyde adhesives.In this study, extraction of lignin from two Malaysian bamboo species known as Semantan (Gigantochloa scortechinii) and Beting (Gigantochloa levis) bamboos was carried via soda pulping method at elevated pressure and temperature in an autoclave. Bamboo lignin was then characterized in terms of functional groups available and thermal characteristics (Glass temperature and thermal decomposition). Spectroscopic analysis revealed that both Semantan lignin (SL) and Beting lignin (BL) have similarity in terms of functional groups with both lignin mainly composed of guaiacyl (G) and syringyl (S) type lignin. Glass temperature (Tg) of Semantan lignin (SL) and Beting lignin (BL) was equivalent to 80.83°C and 75.83°C with mass residue at 800°C was equivalent to 71.2% and 57.28% respectively. Relatively low glass temperature combined with high stability at elevated temperature makes bamboo lignin good potential raw materials for partial substitution of phenol in the development of lignin phenol formaldehyde adhesives.

Impact Strength of Laminated Floor Panel from Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus) High Density Fibreboard

This study provides a better understanding of the effect of density and thickness on impact strength of laminated floor panel from Kenaf high density fibreboard (KHDF). The objective of this study was therefore to determine the role of density and thickness on the impact strength of laminated floor panel. Laminated floor panels consisted of high density fibreboard (HDF) as core and decorative paper as surface layer and backing. Kenaf bast fibres were used for HDF with three different densities (850, 960 and 1000 kg/m3) with thickness of 8mm and 12mm for each panel. Energy (J) value was evaluated to determine the impact strength of all various floor panels. It was found that thickness has affected statistically on impact strength while there was no significantly difference existed on density of laminated floor panel on impact strength.

Accelerated Aging Cycle of Composite Reinforced High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Roofing Panel

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of accelerated aging cycle (AAC) on water absorption of the composites. The HDPE composite was subjected to a series of six ageing cycles at an elevated temperature. The cycle consist of immersion in water at (49 ± 2°C), explosion to steam and water vapor (93 ± 2°C), stored in freezer (-12 ± 2°C), and heated in oven (99 ± 2°C). It took approximately twelve days to complete this aging cycle. The effect and the changes of water absorption for both control and after accelerated aging were observed and determined. The results showed that water absorption was significant as the greater the fibre percentage, the higher the water absorption. This behavior occurs for both conditions. There were significant differences in the percentage of the water absorption for both control and accelerated aging cycle.