Physical Properties of Bio-Composite Board Reinforced with Shell Particle and Coconut Fiber

The properties of the particles which have best binding capacity with the matrix can be combined with the properties of the fibers which give the composite strength. The use of shell particles and coconut fiber together as a composite reinforcement provides a variety of new physical properties that are different from its constituents. Therefore, the variation in weight fraction of the two fibers as reinforcement is interesting to study. The bio-composite board was made to use open mold process. The bio-composite board reinforced with shell particles and coconut fiber has a density of 0.938 ≤ ρ ≤ 1,020 g/cm 3 . The greatest water content reaches 5.43%. The immersion time of 24 hours, water absorption of this bio-composite board is in the range of 1.95% to 3.38%, and the largest thickness swelling reaches 2.86 %. Bio-composite board which is composed of 40% by weight of coconut fiber has a density of 1.111 g/cm 3 . Water content reaches 5.90%%. Water absorption capacity and thickness swelling of 4.08% and 3.12%, respectively. While the bio-composite board which is composed of 40% by weight of shell particles has a smaller density, moisture content, absorption capacity and thickness expansion, namely 0.901 g/cm 3 , 4.13%, 1.61% and 1.18%.