Phenol Formaldehyde (PF) resin has been extensively used in the manufacturing industry as a binding agent, especially in the production of wood-based panels because of its ability to provide good moisture resistance, exterior strength and durability as well as excellent temperature stability. However, due to the use of limited petroleum-based phenol in its formulation, there is a strong interest in exploring renewable biomass material to partially substitute the petroleum-based phenol. In this study, the slow pyrolysis of biomass decomposition process was used to convert two types of biomass, namely, oil palm frond and Rhizophora hardwood, into bio-oil. The phenol-rich fraction of the bio-oil was separated and added into the formulation of PF resin to produce an environmentally-friendly type of PF resin, known as bio-oilphenol-formaldehyde (BPF) resin. This BPF resin was observed to have comparable viscosity, better alkalinity, improved non-volatile content and faster curing temperature than conventional PF resin. Moreover, the particleboard bonded with this BPF resin was observed to have just as excellent bonding strength as the one bonded using conventional PF resin. However, the BPF resin exhibited an increased level of free formaldehyde and less thermal stability than the conventional PF resin, probably due to the addition of the less reactive bio-oil.
The composite polymer films of polyvinyl alcohol/polypyrrole/chloral hydrate (PVA-PPy-CH) had been prepared. Effects of γ-rays on the electrical conductivity of the composite polymer films had been investigated by using Inductance Capacitance Resistance meter (LCR) meter at a frequency ranging from 20 Hz to 1 MHz. With the incorporation of chloral hydrate in the polymer sample, the conductivity increased indicates that it is capable to be used as dopant for polymerizing conjugated polymer. The electrical conductivity obtained increased as the dose increased, which is in the order of 10-5 Scm-1 indicates that γ-rays is capable to enhance the electrical conductivity of the composite polymer films. The parameter of s is in the range of 0.31 d s d 0.49 and obeyed simple power law dispersion ωs. The Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) micrographs reveal the formation of polypyrrole globules in polyvinyl alcohol matrix which increased as the irradiation dose was increased.
The composite polymer films of polyvinyl alcohol/polypyrrole/chloral hydrate (PVA-PPy-CH) had been prepared. Effects of J-rays on the electrical conductivity of the composite polymer films had
been investigated by using Inductance Capacitance Resistance meter (LCR) meter at a frequency
ranging from 20 Hz to 1 MHz. With the incorporation of chloral hydrate in the polymer sample, the conductivity increased indicates that it is capable to be used as dopant for polymerizing conjugated polymer. The electrical conductivity obtained increased as the dose increased, which is in the order of 10-5Scm-1 indicates that J-rays is capable to enhance the electrical conductivity of the composite polymer films. The parameter of s is in the range of 0.31 d s d 0.49 and obeyed simple power law dispersion Zs. The Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) micrographs reveal the formation of polypyrrole globules in polyvinyl alcohol matrix which increased as the irradiation dose was increased.