Thermal properties of oil palm biomass based composites

Lignocellulosic oil palm biomass is a bioagricultural residue periodically left in the field during the replanting, pruning, and milling processes of palm oil, composed of oil palm trunk (OPT), oil palm frond (OPF), oil palm kernel shells (OPKS), and oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) fibers. OPEFB and OPT fibers represent the most promising alternative to synthetic fibers with comparatively similar physical and mechanical properties like coir fibers to fabricate unique and cost-effective advanced composite materials with a variety of thermoset and thermoplastic polymers. The reinforcements of oil palm fibers significantly improve composite dynamic and thermal stability with a marked increase in storage modulus value, have better thermal degradation temperature, and lowered glass transition temperature.Present review article was designed to be a complementary source of contemporary literature on oil palm biomass, OPEFB, and OPF fibers with major emphasis on recent reported study on improved thermal properties of the OPEFB fiber-reinforced polymer composites including its different applications.