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Mechanical properties of Arenga Pinnata Powder Reinforced Recycled
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) for Fire Retardant Composites
Nabila Alia Natasha Binti Abdul Wahab
Supervisor: Dr. Suriani Binti Mat Jusoh
Bachelor of Applied Science (Maritime Technology)
School of Ocean Engineering
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu
Arenga Pinnata powder (APP) reinforced composite is prepare by blending unsaturated
polyester resin (UPR) from waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) with Arenga
Pinnata powder. The APP will be treated with sodium hydroxide follow by silane prior
to inclusion into the UPR. The untreated APP reinforced composite is use as a control.
Dricon as a phosphate type of flame retardant with different amount will be added to
reduce the flammability of the composite. The burning properties, limiting oxygen
index (LOI), tensile strength and modulus of both composites will increase with the
addition of Dricon. In addition, thermogravimetry (TGA) analysis indicates the
degradation temperature will increase with the addition of Dricon into UPR.
Morphological observations also indicate better distribution of Dricon for treated fibre
composite result in enhancement of the tensile properties of the treated fibre
composite. Therefore, the APP composites with addition of Dricon are significant as
fire retardant composites.
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