Effects of different fillers on oil absorption and flexural properties of filler-based polyethylene composite

Noor Arzahan, Noor Emilia Adila (2018) Effects of different fillers on oil absorption and flexural properties of filler-based polyethylene composite. [Project Paper] (Submitted)

Text lp FK 2018 13.pdf Download (6MB)

Abstract

Fried food products are generally known to its undesirable oil absorbed during frying process. In industry, fried food is being packed into plastic before its oil can fully being tossed. Conventional plastic in the market, made from polyethylene, is not able to absorb excess oil from the fried food due to its nature to resist water and oil. As a result, oil will be accumulated inside the plastic and will affect the freshness and shelf life of the product. This research aims in producing a plastic material, made of polyethylene, which able to absorb oil from fried food (when the food is packed inside the plastic) and at the same time, this plastic material can retain its shape and mechanical strength. Rice husk (RH) and rice husk ash (RHA) were used as fillers while polyethylene (PE) acted as the binder matrix. Five levels of filler loading (10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 wt.%) were incorporated into the PE to produced PE-RH and PE-RHA composites. Two tests were conducted which were oil absorption and flexural test. Based on the results from both tests, addition of fillers at any loading percentages showed significant improvement on the oil absorption and flexural properties of the composites as compared to control sample which is PE. PE-RH and PE-RHA with 25 percent of fillers was found to be the best oil absorbent. For flexural properties, PE-RH with 20 percent of RH and PE-RHA with 30 percent of RHA was found to possess the highest flexural strength. In overall, based on the concept scoring matrix, PE-RH composite with 20 percent of RH and PE-RHA composite with 25 percent of RHA were the best sample which possessed the combination of good oil absorption and flexural properties. This research proved that PE-RH and PE-RHA composites have great potential to be a good oil absorbent.

Item Type:	Project Paper
Faculty:	Faculty of Engineering
Depositing User:	Ms Siti Mariam Giman
Date Deposited:	27 Oct 2023 08:24
Last Modified:	27 Oct 2023 08:24
URI:	http://psaspb.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/1611

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