Preliminary Study of Moulded Laminated Veneer Oil Palm (MLVOP)

Abstract

This research was undertaken to study the suitability of oil palm trunk to be utilized as a raw material for moulded laminated veneer oil palm (MLVOP). The trunks were converted into veneers by rotary peeling machine. The veneers were segregated into two veneer qualities namely superior (S) and inferior (I). The methods of segregating veneers quality were defined. The superior veneers were obtained by peeling the billets until their diameters left approximately 12 inches, meanwhile the inferior veneers were obtained by further peeling the same billets used for obtaining superior veneers until their diameters left 4 inches. The mean densities for superior veneer as well as inferior veneer were about 478.8 kg/m 3 and 385.1 kg/m 3 respectively. The mean moisture content of both superior and inferior veneers was approximately 11%. The veneers were arranged with 5 layers into three types of moulded shapes of furniture components namely i) 100% S ii) alternate S and I and iii) surface S & core I. The suitable pressure, temperature and time were set as important parameters. The arrangements of veneer quality were pressed using V-shape mould through hot press machine with three parameters pressure 1500 psi, 2000 psi and 2500 psi. Two types of adhesives namely UF and PF were used to produce MLVOP. The mechanical properties of the composites were tested with three bending types i.e. flat bending, type-V bending, and type-OV in accordance with BS EN 310:1993. The results showed that most of the samples bonded with UF-resin have better strengths (MOR and MOE) when tested with the three bending tests compared to the samples bonded with PF-resin. However, the results vary depends on the veneer arrangements.

A review of oil palm biocomposites for furniture design and applications: Potential and challenges

“…Statistical data show that 40 million tons residual oil palm biomass wastes from oil palm trees such as EFB, OPT, OPF, and PPF are produced every year in Malaysia (Baharuddin et al 2009). Based on this research, only 10% of the total oil palm biomass is used, while the remaining 90% is underutilized (Khalil and Bhat 2010;Khalil et al 2011). Cellulosic raw materials produced from both dried coconut trunks and OPF can be used as alternatives to wood materials (Khalil and Rozman 2004;Amouzgar et al 2010).…”

“… Wood fiber-plastic composite  Wood fiber-agricultural fiber composite possesses better machining parameters and improves the efficiency of the use of raw materials (Bhat et al 2010). Innovative research combining both EFB and OPT produced a new blend of plywood with improved quality relative to existing plywood, particularly regarding flexural strength, screw withdrawal, and shear strength (Salleh et al 2011;Khalil et al 2010c;Khalil and Rozman 2004). For example, studies using oil palm trunks to produce molded laminated veneer oil palm (MLVOP) for furniture demonstrated that that MLVOP performed similarly to or better than normal wood veneer, and was suitable for making profitable furniture products.…”

“…Several articles have been published that report scientific findings on composites and biocomposites with interesting results (Khalil et al 2011;Khalil et al 2010b;Khalil et al 2010c;Bhat et al 2010;Yusoff and Koh, 2001). Design aspects of biocomposites and their development with respect to innovative furniture design and future furniture demand based on population growth, as well as challenges for utilization of biocomposites for furniture applications have not been adequately considered to date in a review article.…”