Pengaruh Perlakuan Alkali (NaOH) terhadap Sifat Mekanik Komposit Epoksi Berpengisi Partikel Serat Buah Pinang

Abstract

This research aims to determine the effect of fiber volume fraction of areca with epoxy and the influence of the concentration of alkali (NaOH) on mechanical properties of composites epoxy-areca fiber particle. The materials were used are areca fiber that obtained from supplier in Stabat, epoxy, and sodium hydroxide. The variables used include epoxy variation with fiber volume fractions of areca nut and concentration variation of of NaOH used in the immersion of the fiber. Composite manufacture started with the preparation of the fiber that used as a filler is separated from the outer shell, cleaned, and dried. Then the fiber was soaked in a solution of NaOH with each concentration for 1 hour, washed with water until neutral pH, and dried in an oven until constant weight fiber. Fibers that have been soaked, milled in a ball mill until particles formed and then sieved with a 50 mesh sieve. After the fiber is ready for use as a filler, the fiber evenly mixed with epoxy and epoxy hardener then put it in the molds. Then composite stay in the mold for 1 day at room temperature. After that, the composite ejected from the mold and do testing on each sample, the test were Fourier Transform Infra Red (FT-IR) test, tensile strength test, flexural strength test, impact strength test, water absorption test, and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) test. The results showed the general strength of the composite increases with the increase of filler and NaOH concentration. Maximum tensile strength was obtained in epoxy-areca ratio 60: 40 and 2% of alkali concentration in amount 19,311 MPa, otherwise minimum tensile strength was 10,653 MPa. Maximum bending strength was obtained in epoxy-areca ratio 60: 40 and 2% of alkali concentration in amount 50,36 MPa, otherwise minimum bending strength was 28,05 MPa. Maximum impact strength was obtained in epoxy-areca ratio 60: 40 and 2% of alkali concentration in amount 6698,6 J/m2 , otherwise minimum impact strength was 4996,97 J/m2 . Moreover, alkali treatment of the fibers showed changes in peak that obtained on FT-IR test and water absorption increases with increasing of filler in composites. The optimum composition and concentration was obtained in ratio of epoxy and areca fiber at 60:40 and 2% of alkali concentration.