Development of palm oil based bio-product industrial wax and its application performance study

Abstract

Machining is a mechanical process where excess material from a work is removed to produce a product. At the moment different ferrous, non-ferrous materials and industrial blue wax have been used for prototype models. However such materials is very expensive. Hence an attempt is made to substitute these materials by the palm oil based bio-wax produced in Malaysia. In this research, the authors will analyze and investigate whether there is a possibility to use the palm oil based bio-wax material to substitute with the petroleum based industrial-wax. Experimental analyses are carried out to investigate the capability and the strength of the palm oil based bio-wax material. The matrix blends were prepared of fatty acids from oleo-chemicals, palm oil wax, natural ash fibre and low linear density polyethylene (LLDPE) by stirring and melt-mixing. Sample blends are machined with lathe machining process. The sample blends showed there was no built edge formation and good smooth surface production.