Sintesis Wood Plastic Composite Berbasis Low Density Polyethylene dan Karbon Aktif Kayu Bakau

Abstract

Research has been conducted on the synthesis of wood plastic composite based on low density polyethylene and mangrove wood activated carbon. This study aims to determine the effect of the addition of mangrove wood activated carbon on the mechanical strength of LDPE. Mangrove wood was carbonised at 500ºC for 1 hour then activated with 10% H2SO4 and allowed to stand for 24 hours then washed until the pH was neutral. After that, it was dried at 100 ºC for 2 hours. Variations of LDPE composition with mangrove wood activated carbon are 100%: 0%, 97% : 3%, 94% : 6%, 91% : 9. LDPE was dissolved with xylene using the reflux method. After the LDPE dissolved, it was mixed with activated carbon with a motor styrer at a speed of 550rpm for 45 minutes then after being fully mixed it was printed using a hydraulic press at 140ºC for 20 minutes. The characterisation carried out is tensile test, flexural strength test, FTIR and SEM-EDX. The mechanical test results, namely tensile strength and flexural strength, showed the optimum composition at 94%: 6%. The tensile strength was 16.90 MPa and the flexural strength was 14 MPa. FTIR test results show the mixing between LDPE with mangrove wood activated carbon in the form of O-H, C-H Stretching, C-C Streching, C-O, C=O functional groups and the SEM-EDX test shows the presence of C, O, Si content.