| Summary: | The oil palm biomass is challenging in term of its mass utilization and its compatibility to various processing. The use of alkali treatment on wood fibers could modify the surface, thus making it more suitable for processing with polypropylene. This work analyses the impact of alkali treatment on the bulk density and its impact on the mechanical properties of wood-plastic composite (WPC). Fibers used were treated at 3 concentration level of sodium hydroxide: NaOH (1, 2, and 4%) and compared to control (no treatment). Two fiber loading 10 and 50 wt.% were blended representing high matrix and high fiber environment respectively. The materials were blended at 180 °C for 40 min and palletized. The test samples were pressed at 1000psi with temperature of 195 °C for 6 min. Test samples were prepared and tested in accordance to relevant ASTM procedure. Bulk density of fibers indicated an inversely proportional relation to concentration of alkali. Mechanical and physical properties showed better performance after alkali treatment and the impact was varied according to the loading factor of the composite. While tensile and flexural modulus of rupture plus elongation was at higher value for 10 wt.% fiber loading, the composite with 50 wt.% fibers exhibited higher modulus of elasticity and impact performance. The trend of 10 wt.% loading was either V shaped or inverted V shaped for mechanical properties indicating the impact at 2% modification being strongest. The 50 wt.% fiber loaded WPC have upward trend throughout the mechanical properties proportional to the alkali content. Capillary action of fiber in void created in higher loaded composite explained the lower absorption for 10 wt.% loaded WPC. Composites using treated fiber are a good option for future development as it could be further optimized using varying processing parameters such as temperature, pressure, time, loading factor, and coupling agents addition. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
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