Effects of oil palm frond fiber reinforcement on morphology, mechanical, and acoustic properties of rigid polyurethane foam

Budi Istana; Adriyan; Jeefferie Abd Razak; Dimas Prayuda; Rahmat Dai

doi:10.15282/ijame.23.1.2026.10.1008

Authors

Budi Istana Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universitas Muhammadiyah Riau (UMRI), Pekanbaru 28294, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9575-9682 (unauthenticated)
Adriyan Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universitas Muhammadiyah Riau (UMRI), Pekanbaru 28294, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8503-3287 (unauthenticated)
Jeefferie Abd Razak Fakulti Teknologi dan Kejuruteraan Industri dan Pembuatan, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Hang Tuah Jaya, 76100 Durian Tunggal, Melaka, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0318-4541 (unauthenticated)
Dimas Prayuda Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universitas Muhammadiyah Riau (UMRI), Pekanbaru 28294, Indonesia
Rahmat Dai Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universitas Muhammadiyah Riau (UMRI), Pekanbaru 28294, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15282/ijame.23.1.2026.10.1008

Keywords:

Rigid polyurethane foam, Oil palm frond fiber, Natural fiber composites, Acoustic absorption, Mechanical–acoustic trade-off, Sustainable materials

Abstract

The quest for innovative, eco-friendly materials has spurred the exploration of agricultural biomass waste as a potential resource for polymer composites. The current study examines the impact of untreated oil palm frond (OPF) fiber on the multifunctional and sustainable performance of rigid polyurethane (PU) foam in the oil palm industry, in alignment with Sustainable Development Goals 12 and 13. Using a one-shot polymerization method, OPF foams were fabricated with fiber contents of 0, 5, 10, 20, and 30 (wt%). The foams were tested for density, morphology, compressive strength, and sound absorption performance in accordance with ASTM D1621 and ISO 10534-2. Experimental densities were compared with theoretical values to confirm that the foam production process was consistent. Scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed that OPF contents above 20 wt% disrupted the cellular structure, resulting in non-uniform cell sizes and increased cell wall collapse. These morphological defects contributed to a reduction in compressive strength from 0.1901 N/mm² for neat PU foam to 0.0697 N/mm² at 30 wt% OPF. In contrast, the 30 wt% OPF foam showed greater porosity and a higher proportion of open cells, resulting in superior sound absorption performance in the 1000–2500 Hz frequency range. Overall, the findings reveal a clear trade-off between mechanical strength and acoustic efficiency. PU foams with high OPF content possess eco-sustainable benefits and enhanced sound-absorbing qualities. Despite the reduction in compressive strength, high OPF-loaded PU foams show potential for lightweight, non-structural applications, such as automotive parts and interior building materials.

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