Suhaimi Muhammed

Mechanical Properties of Composite Panels from Rice Husk

The study involving utilization of agricultural residue is gaining attention. This is an attempt to investigate the possibility of producing composite panels from rice husk (RH), an abundant source of agricultural residues. Composite panels were produced by mixing 1mm of rice husk with a commercial binder called urea formaldehyde at different density levels namely 650kg/m3, 700kg/m3 and 750kg/m3. Two types of resin content (10% and 12%) were used. Mechanical strength tests were performed on the panels conforming to British Standard (BS EN 310). Results obtained indicated that the modulus of elasticity (MOE) increased up to 1753.98MPa at 750kg/m3 density level with 12% resin content. Similarly, modulus of rupture (MOR) increased up to 8.08MPa with increase in panel density and amount of resin content. Thus, the potential of producing reasonably good composite panels from rice husk for specific end usage is very promising.

Anatomical Properties of Juvenile Latex Timber Clone Rubberwood Trees

At present, Malaysian furniture industries are dependent on the rubberwood (Hevea brasiliensis) species and are also highly demanded by other wood-based industry. This is because, the wood properties of rubberwood such as whitish color and good machining properties make it suitable in producing furniture and furthermore rubberwood is also known as “Malaysian Oak” or “White Mahogany” as a trade name. Due to that, Lembaga Getah Malaysia (LGM) had introduced the latex timber clone (LTC) at early years of 2000s to overcome the shortage of rubberwood. In this research, the anatomical aspect of tree heights and distances from near bark to near pith for two different types of latex timber clones (RRIM 2009 and RRIM 2024) of the same age between 3–4 years was investigated. The results for vessel frequency and vessel diameter showed no significant difference for clone and the distance from near bark to near pith except for tree height where the vessel frequency at the top portion is greater and the bottom portion gave a higher number for vessel diameter because both characteristics were related to each other. With regards to vessel frequency, RRIM 2024 clone register a higher value as compared to RRIM 2009. Overall, this study found that the RRIM 2024 clone showed better growth performance compared to RRIM 2009 clone.

Anthropometric Data of Primary School Children in Malaysia for School Chair Design

Anthropometrics data of Malaysian Primary school children are yet to be compiled and used for producing ergonomic school furniture. In this study, anthropometrics data of six body dimensions were collected, these are the hip width, shoulder breadth, sitting subscapular height, sitting shoulder, buttock-popliteal length, and popliteal height. The objectives were to compare current school chair dimensions with the newly proposed chair in order to prove the need of having anthropometric data as a basis in furniture design. Method: A custom-made measurer was used to measuring samples of 2400 school children across four states in Malaysia which include Perak, Pahang, Selangor and Johor and consists of students aged 7–11 years old. The 5th and 95th percentiles were used and data were evaluated by differentiating the current school chair with the newly proposed chair where results showed differences in sizes between the two. In conclusion, there is a need for having new chair dimensions that follow Malaysian children’s anthropometry.

Assessment of Strength Properties of Biocomposite from Oil Palm Frond

Shortage of solid wood supply as the main raw material for the wood-based industries is cute problem faced by the world wide wood industry. Agricultural residues especially from oil palm plantation are abundantly and is therefore hoped to solve the above problem. In this context, this study would like to venture into the utilization of oil palm frond (OPF) as the potential agricultural residues for the manufacture of biocomposite panel. Raw material (OPF) mixed with the binder urea formaldehyde at three resin levels (8%, 10%, and 12%) to produce board of two density levels (550 kg/m3 and 650 kg/m3). The boards produced were tested for the mechanical strength (MOE & MOR) in accordance with the European Standard (EN 310). The results showed that the MOE values increased as the resin content increased for both board densities. The values are 1755.54 MPa to 2147.44 MPa for 550 kg/m3 and 2351.81 MPa to 2810.34 MPa for 650 kg/m3. Respectively, similar trend of increment was exhibited for the MOR values 12.18 MPa to 14.98 MPa for 550 kg/m3 and 16.62 MPa to 19.90 MPa for 650 kg/m3. In conclusion, the utilization of oil palm frond for the production of strong biocomposite material stands a great potential.

Manufacture of composite panel from sugarcane bagasse

Agricultural waste such as sugarcane bagasse is abundant in Malaysia and at present is mainly used as combustible material for energy supply in the sugar factory. This study was conducted to investigate the possibility of manufacturing composite panel from sugarcane bagasse at three density levels (450, 550, 650 kg/m3), two resin content (10 and 12%) and with or without wax (1%) addition. The panel produced were tested for mechanical properties (modulus of elasticity and modulus of rupture) and physical properties (water absorption and thickness swelling) conforming to the British standard (BS EN 310 and BS EN 317). The results revealed that board with density 650kg/m3 gave superior strength compared to those of 450kg/m3 and 550kg/m3 densities. The addition of 1% wax helped to improve the water absorption and thickness swelling of the composite panel. Thus, it can be concluded that composite panel can successfully be produced from sugarcane bagasse as the main source of raw materials.