This research work was to study the improvement of toughness of polylactic acid (PLA) and the cost reduction of raw material with addition of untreated and treated oil palm fiber (OPF). The detail of this work was divided into two parts. The first was to find the suitable condition for surface treatment of OPF with sodium hydroxide (NaOH). The second part was to study the effect of untreated and treated OPF contents on the mechanical properties of PLA. For surface treatment of OPF NaOH concentrations and immersion times were varied from 0 to 15 wt% and 0 to 30 min respectively. Aspect ratio (L/D) and surface of untreated and treated OPF were investigated by using optical microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM) respectively. The result suggested that the most suitable condition for surface treatment of OPF was NaOH concentration of 10 wt% at immersion time of 20 min. Treated OPF was occurred microporous and had more rough as compare to untreated fiber. For the effect of untreated and treated OPF contents on the mechanical properties of PLA it was evaluated by tensile and impact testing. SEM was used for investigation of interfacial adhesion and fiber dispersion. The results showed that tensile modulus and impact strength tend to increase with adding 2.5 wt% OPF content and slightly changed at higher OPF content whereas ultimate tensile strength and elongation at break decreased with increasing fiber content. Surface treatment with NaOH led to enhancement of mechanical properties of composite due to improve interfacial adhesion and fiber dispersion.

This research aims to study the using oil palm fiber to develop ceiling board product. The mixture ratios of Gypsum plaster: oil palm fiber: tap water: catalyst are 1 : 0.15 : 1: 0.03 1 : 0.20 : 1: 0.03 1 : 0.25 : 1: 0.03 1 : 0.30: 1: 0.03 and 1 : 0.35 : 1: 0.03 by weight. The ceiling board samples are cast in 30 x 30 x 1 centimeter in dimension. The ceiling board sample testing follows the TIS 219-2552. The results show that the longitudinal and lateral breaking load Nail pull resistance density and thermal conductivity of ceiling board with high quantity of oil palm fiber are lower than ceiling board with low quantity of oil palm fiber while that the deflection and water absorption of ceiling board with high quantity of oil palm fiber are higher. However all of oil palm fiber samples with lower than 0.2 of ratio can pass the standard.

This research aims to study the using oil palm fiber to develop pseudo-plywood from polyethylene product. The mixture ratios of oil palm fiber : polyethylene are 50 : 50 55 : 45 60 : 40 65 : 35 and 70 : 30 by weight. The pseudo-plywood samples are cast in 30 x 30 x 1.5 centimeter in dimension. The pseudo-plywood sample testing follows the TIS 966-2547. The results show that the density bending strength modulus of elasticity thermal conductivity and tension perpendicular to surface of pseudo-plywood with high quantity of oil palm fiber are lower than pseudo-plywood with low quantity of oil palm fiber while that the water absorption and swelling by density of pseudo-plywood with high quantity of oil palm fiber are higher. However all of oil palm fiber samples with lower than 65 of ratio can pass the standard.

This research aims to study the using oil palm fiber to develop cement-bonded fiberboard product. The mixture ratios of Portland cement type1: fine sand: oil palm fiber:tap water: catalyst are 1 : 1.95 : 0.05 : 0.40 : 0.03 1 : 1.94 : 0.06 : 0.40 : 0.03 1 : 1.93 : 0.07 : 0.40 : 0.03 1 : 1.92 : 0.08 : 0.40 : 0.03 and 1 : 1.91 : 0.09 : 0.40 : 0.03 by weight. The cement-bonded fiberboard samples are cast in 30 x 30 x 1.5 centimeter in dimension. The cement-bonded fiberboard sample testing follows the TIS 878-2537. The results show that the density thermal conductivity bending strength modulus of elasticity and tension perpendicular to surface of cement-bonded fiberboard with high quantity of oil palm fiber are lower than cement-bonded fiberboard with low quantity of oil palm fiber while that the water absorption and swelling in water of cement-bonded fiberboard with high quantity of oil palm fiber are higher. However all of oil palm fiber samples with lower than 0.06 of ratio can pass the standard.