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The present work deals with the utilization of oil palm mesocarp fibre (OPMF) and poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) to produce cost-effective biodegradable materials. The biocomposite was prepared from OPMF and PBS at a weight ratio of 70:30 via a melt blending technique without addition of any additive. This biocomposite showed relatively low tensile and water resistance properties. As a consequence, it was subjected to electron beam irradiation (EBI) treatment under various irradiation dosages ranging from 5-25 kGy, aiming at improving both its tensile properties and its water resistance. The results indicated that the biocomposite irradiated with 25 kGy of applied dosage showed a considerable improvement of 50% in tensile strength, 780% in tensile modulus and 38% in elongation at break. The water absorption and thickness swelling of the biocomposites were reduced after EBI treatment. The scanning electron microscopy showed improvement of the interfacial adhesion between OPMF and PBS after EBI treatment.

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Nanocomposites of organo Zn-Al layered double hydroxide (LDH) with natural rubber (SMR CV60) were successfully synthesized and characterized. To prepare the nanocomposites, a hydrophilic Zn-Al layer double hydroxide (ZnAl LDH -NO3−) was first converted into the organophilic form by using dodecylsulphate ion (DS) as a guest in Zn-Al layer double hydroxide (ZnAl LDH-DS). Intercalation of dodecylsulphate anion into the interlayer of LDH increased the surface area and the porosity of LDH. Nanocomposites of NR / ZnAl LDH-DS was then prepared by melt intercalation method using Haake internal mixer. The resulting compounds were then vulcanizated using the conventional method. X-Ray diffractogram the organophilic ZnAl-DS LDH shows the basal spacing of the ZnAl-LDH expands from 0.89 nm with nitrate as the intergallery anions to 2.53 nm due to the accommodation of DS surfactant anions. After the compounding with the natural rubber, the basal spacing of ZnAl LDH-DS in the composites is increased to 3.90 and 3.66 nm when the Zn-Al-LDH-DS contents are 1 phr and 15 phr respectively. TEM revealed the layered double hydroxide generally uniformly distributed in the rubber matrix. Further characterization indicates that the tensile strength of NR/ Zn-Al LDH-DS (nanocomposites) is higher than that of the NR/Zn-Al LDH-NO3− (macrocomposites).

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