Effect of Moisture Content and Oil Palm Varieties on The Coefficient of Sliding Friction of Kernel and Shell on Fibre Material (Rug Canvas)

Abstract

The effect of moisture content of two varieties of palm kernel and shell on the coefficient of sliding friction of the two faces (face A and face B) of a fibre material was determined. Standard procedures were used to determine the moisture content for both kernel and shell of tenera and dura varieties. The results show that the moisture content of dura and tenera varieties were 17.4 and 18.2% which were individually adjusted to 9, 13 and 17% by adding 76.3, 39.8 and 3.3 g; and 82.3, 46.4 and 10.6 g distilled water respectively. The angle of repose apparatus was used to determine the coefficient of sliding friction of palm kernel and shell of dura and tenera varieties on the two faces of fibre material. It was observed that the average values of dura palm kernel and palm shell coefficient of sliding friction on the two faces of fibre material ranged from 0.458-0.777 for 9% moisture
content; 0.510-0.690 for 13% moisture content and 0.532-0.777 for 17% moisture content. Additionally, the average values of tenera kernel and shell
coefficient of sliding friction on the two faces of fibre material ranged from 0.546 - 0.864 for 9% moisture content; 0.506-0.953 for 13% moisture content; and 0.537-0.927 for 17% moisture content. Therefore, we observed that the moisture content of either dura palm kernel or dura palm shell had significant effect (p<0.05) on the coefficient of sliding friction on face A and face B of the fibre while the moisture content of either tenera palm kernel or tenera palm shell had insignificant effect (p>0.05) on the coefficient of sliding friction on face A and face B of the fibre. The coefficient of sliding friction on fibre was affected by the moisture content of dura variety but not of that tenera variety.