In this study oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) fibres was used to synthesize biophenolic resin (BPR) at a different
formaldehyde/liquefied empty fruit bunches (F/LEFB) molar ratio which is 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0. The higher molar ratio of F/
LEFB used has resulted in an increased of viscosity and solid content of BPR resin. The first decomposition of BPR resin
occured around 86 to 130°C due to the evaporation of low molecular weight substance which were water, free phenol
and formaldehyde. Glass fibre reinforced biophenolic composite (BPC) and glass fibre reinforced biophenolic elastomer
composite (BPEC) was successfully fabricated using BPR resin. The impact strength and flexural strain of BPEC were
higher than that of BPC. The impact strength of BPEC 1.5 was the highest at 47.71 kJm-2. However, the flexural strength
of BPEC was lower compared with BPC, which the highest flexural strength was obtained by BPC 1.0 at 65.18 MPa. The
cross-sectional image from scanning electron microscope (SEM) of BPEC and BPC confirmed the presence of epoxidized
natural rubber (ENR) improved the compatibility between glass fibre and BPR resin.
The factors responsible for the low solubility percentage of oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) cellulose pulp compared
to kenaf when dissolved in aqueous NaOH/urea solvent system was reported. Physical and chemical properties of both
cellulose pulp were studied and compared in terms of the lignin content, viscosity average molecular weight (Mη),
crystallinity index (CrI), cellulose pulp structure and their zero span tensile strength. The structure of both OPEFB and
kenaf cellulose pulp were characterized using high powered microscope and field emission scanning electron microscopy
(FESEM) assisted by ImageJ® software. The results show that the most significant factor that affected the OPEFB and
kenaf cellulose dissolution in NaOH/-urea solvent was the Mη with OPEFB having a higher Mη of 1.68×105 compared to
5.53 × 104 for kenaf. Overall, kenaf cellulose appeared to be produced in higher quantities presumably due to its lower
molecular weight with superior tensile strength and permeability in comparison to OPEFB.