EFFECT OF TEOS CONCENTRATION ON SILICA COATING MORPHOLOGY AND THERMAL STABILITY OF ELAEIS GUINEENSIS FIBER FOR FIRE RETARDANT APPLICATIONS

Abstract

Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) empty fruit bunch (EGEFB) fiber, a prevalent agricultural byproduct in Malaysia, exhibits significant potential as an environmentally sustainable insulating material attributable to its thermal and acoustic resistive characteristics. Nonetheless, its pronounced flammability constrains its utilization, thereby necessitating the implementation of fire-retardant treatments. This study investigates the implications of varying concentrations of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) on the silica coating morphology of EGEFB fibers, employing a sol-gel approach with TEOS-ethanol ratios of 1:4, 1:7, and 1:10. The coated fibers underwent thermal curing at 80 °C for one hour. Characterization of the coated fibers was executed through X-ray diffraction (XRD) to ascertain the presence of silica, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) for the analysis of coating morphology, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) for the evaluation of thermal stability. The results elucidate that lower concentrations of TEOS yield more homogeneous silica coatings, resulting in enhanced adhesion and improved thermal stability, whereas higher TEOS concentrations lead to irregular coatings with suboptimal adhesion. These findings underscore the importance of optimizing TEOS concentration to attain effective, thermally stable coatings on EGEFB fibers. This paper offers valuable insights into the enhancement of fire resistance and thermal properties of EGEFB fibers, thereby contributing to the advancement of sustainable material development for sectors aiming for environmentally friendly, thermally stable and fire-retardant insulation materials.