Effect of oil palm nano filler on mechanical and morphological properties of kenaf reinforced epoxy composites

• Nano OPEFB kenaf hybrid epoxy nanocomposites were fabricated by hand lay-up.
• Effects of nano OPEFB incorporation on mechanical properties were investigated.
• Effects of nano OPEFB incorporation on morphological properties were determined.
• Comparative study were made with MMT and OMMT kenaf hybrid epoxy nanocomposites.

Epoxy based hybrid nanocomposites was prepared by dispersing the nano filler (nano OPEFB filler, MMT, OMMT) at 3% loading through high speed mechanical stirrer followed by wet hand lay-up technique. Mechanical and morphology properties of hybrid nanocomposites were carried out. Obtained results indicated that the addition of 3% nano OPEFB filler into the kenaf epoxy composites considerably improves the mechanical and morphological properties. Nano OPEFB/kenaf hybrid epoxy nanocomposites displayed comparable properties to MMT/kenaf but less than OMMT/kenaf hybrid epoxy nanocomposites. We concluded that nano OPEFB hybrid composites will provide alternative constructional materials respect to steel, bricks and cement for Malaysia.