The strength of the screw handle

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 50 views

Introduction

The world is facing a significant environmental crisis, with deforestation, pollution, and waste management being some of the most pressing issues. The demand for sustainable materials has increased, and the use of composite boards made from recycled materials has gained attention as a potential solution. This study aims to explore the quality of composite boards made from palm oil and polyethylene (PE) waste recycling, and to investigate their potential as a sustainable alternative to solid wood.

Background

Palm oil is one of the most widely produced oils in the world, with Indonesia and Malaysia being the largest producers. The oil palm industry generates a significant amount of waste, including oil palm stems, which are often discarded or burned. On the other hand, polyethylene (PE) is a widely used plastic that is often discarded and ends up in landfills or oceans. Recycling PE can help reduce waste and conserve natural resources.

Materials and Methods

In this study, oil palm stem waste was processed into particles and used as a raw material for making composite boards. Polyethylene (PE) waste was also collected and recycled. To increase compatibility between the two materials, Maleic Anhydride (mAh) was added to the PE at 5% of its weight, and Dicumyl Peroxide (DCP) was added to the oil palm stem particles at 15% of its weight to start the maleolation reaction.

The method used in this study followed the JIS A 5908 (2003) standards, with plastic particle ratios of 50:50, 60:40, and 70:30. The composite boards were made by compacting the mixture at a pressure of 30 kgf/cm with a temperature of 165 ° C for 15 minutes. The physical and mechanical properties of the composite boards were evaluated based on the JIS A 5908 (2003) standards.

Research Result

The results of the physical properties testing indicate that:

Density

The value of composite board density ranges from 0.77 to 0.99 g/cm³, which has met the standards. This suggests that the composite boards have a good density, which is an important factor in determining their quality.

Water Content

Composite board water content is below the target and standard, with a range of 0.56% to 3.05%. This is caused by the hydrophobic nature of PE, which reduces water absorption. This is a significant advantage of using PE in composite boards, as it makes them more resistant to water damage.

Swelling of the Thickness

Swelling of the thickness of the board after 24 hours meets the standard with a value between 0.44% to 2.77%. This suggests that the composite boards have a good dimensional stability, which is an important factor in determining their quality.

However, one weakness that is seen is absorption of water, which ranges from 2.82% to 16.20%, indicating that although the composite board has hydrophobic properties, there is still the potential to increase in terms of resistance to water.

Mechanical Properties

In terms of mechanical properties, the test results show that:

Modulus Elasticity (MOE) and collapsed modulus (MOR) do not meet the criteria of JIS A 5908 (2003), except for the ratio of plastic particles 60:40 that use particles from stems in oil palm.
The strength of the screw handle also does not meet the standards, shows that further development is needed to increase the mechanical strength of this composite board.

Analysis and Conclusion

From this study, it can be concluded that the use of palm oil and polyethylene recycled waste in making composite boards has good potential, especially in aspects of sustainability and solutions to waste problems. Although some physical properties have met the established standards, mechanical aspects still need improvement to achieve the expected quality.

Further research needs to be carried out to explore mixed ratios, types of additional materials, and processing techniques that can increase the strength and durability of the composite board. Innovation in the use of waste not only provides environmental benefits, but also opens new opportunities in the material industry that is more environmentally friendly.

Recommendations

Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations are made:

Further research should be conducted to explore the use of different types of waste materials, such as agricultural waste and industrial waste, in making composite boards.
The effect of different processing techniques, such as extrusion and injection molding, on the mechanical properties of composite boards should be investigated.
The use of additives, such as fillers and reinforcements, should be explored to improve the mechanical properties of composite boards.
The development of new composite board products that are specifically designed for use in construction, packaging, and other industries should be pursued.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this study has demonstrated the potential of using palm oil and polyethylene recycled waste in making composite boards. The results of this study have shown that the composite boards have good physical properties, but further research is needed to improve their mechanical properties. The use of composite boards made from recycled materials has the potential to provide environmental benefits and open new opportunities in the material industry.

Q: What are composite boards made from palm oil and polyethylene waste recycling?

A: Composite boards made from palm oil and polyethylene waste recycling are a type of material that is made from a combination of palm oil waste and polyethylene (PE) waste. The palm oil waste is processed into particles and mixed with recycled PE to create a composite material.

Q: What are the benefits of using composite boards made from palm oil and polyethylene waste recycling?

A: The benefits of using composite boards made from palm oil and polyethylene waste recycling include:

Reduced waste: By using recycled materials, we can reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills and oceans.
Sustainable: Composite boards made from palm oil and polyethylene waste recycling are a sustainable alternative to traditional materials.
Cost-effective: Using recycled materials can be cost-effective compared to traditional materials.
Environmentally friendly: Composite boards made from palm oil and polyethylene waste recycling are biodegradable and non-toxic.

Q: What are the physical properties of composite boards made from palm oil and polyethylene waste recycling?

A: The physical properties of composite boards made from palm oil and polyethylene waste recycling include:

Density: The density of composite boards made from palm oil and polyethylene waste recycling ranges from 0.77 to 0.99 g/cm³.
Water content: The water content of composite boards made from palm oil and polyethylene waste recycling is below the target and standard, with a range of 0.56% to 3.05%.
Swelling of the thickness: The swelling of the thickness of composite boards made from palm oil and polyethylene waste recycling meets the standard with a value between 0.44% to 2.77%.

Q: What are the mechanical properties of composite boards made from palm oil and polyethylene waste recycling?

A: The mechanical properties of composite boards made from palm oil and polyethylene waste recycling include:

Modulus Elasticity (MOE): The MOE of composite boards made from palm oil and polyethylene waste recycling does not meet the criteria of JIS A 5908 (2003), except for the ratio of plastic particles 60:40 that use particles from stems in oil palm.
Collapsed modulus (MOR): The MOR of composite boards made from palm oil and polyethylene waste recycling does not meet the criteria of JIS A 5908 (2003), except for the ratio of plastic particles 60:40 that use particles from stems in oil palm.
The strength of the screw handle: The strength of the screw handle of composite boards made from palm oil and polyethylene waste recycling does not meet the standards.

Q: What are the limitations of composite boards made from palm oil and polyethylene waste recycling?

A: The limitations of composite boards made from palm oil and polyethylene waste recycling include:

Mechanical properties: The mechanical properties of composite boards made from palm oil and polyethylene waste recycling need to be improved.
Water absorption: Composite boards made from palm oil and polyethylene waste recycling have a high water absorption rate, which can affect their durability.

Q: What are the future prospects of composite boards made from palm oil and polyethylene waste recycling?

A: The future prospects of composite boards made from palm oil and polyethylene waste recycling are promising, with potential applications in:

Construction: Composite boards made from palm oil and polyethylene waste recycling can be used as a sustainable alternative to traditional building materials.
Packaging: Composite boards made from palm oil and polyethylene waste recycling can be used as a biodegradable and non-toxic packaging material.
Furniture: Composite boards made from palm oil and polyethylene waste recycling can be used as a sustainable alternative to traditional furniture materials.

Q: How can I get involved in the development of composite boards made from palm oil and polyethylene waste recycling?

A: If you are interested in getting involved in the development of composite boards made from palm oil and polyethylene waste recycling, you can:

Contact researchers and scientists working on this project.
Join research institutions and universities that are working on this project.
Participate in workshops and conferences related to sustainable materials and waste management.
Collaborate with companies and organizations that are working on this project.