Pembuatan dan Karakterisasi Sifat Fisis dan Mekanik Papan Komposit Serat Batang Lontar (Borassus Flabellifer) dengan Resin Poliester

Abstract

Pembuatan dan karakterisasi komposit serat batang lontar (borassus flabellifer) diperkuat dengan resin poliester telah dilakukan sebagai bahan alternative material komposit. Serat batang lontar diambil dari desa Mudik, kabupaten Nias, Sumatera Utara. Batang pohon lontar diekstraksi dari tiga bagian batang pohon yang berbeda, yaitu bagian pangkal, tengah dan pucuk menggunakan 17,5 % NaOH selama 2 jam yang kemudian akan dicampur serat antar bagian batang untuk mewakili keseluruhan batang pohon lontar. Serat batang lontar yang diperoleh diperkuat oleh resin poliester sebagai matriks untuk membuat bahan komposit. Komposisi serat batang lontar bervariasi dengan fraksi berat 5, 10, 15, 20, dan 25 gr. Pengujian sifat fisis terdiri atas densitas, porositas, penyerapan air. Pengujian sifat mekanik terdiri atas uji impak, uji kuat tekan dan uji kuat lentur. Pengujian terhadap kandungan serat batang lontar menggunakan FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy), kandungan kimia serat ini sangat terkait dengan sifat fisis dan mekanik seperti kekuatan tekan, tegangan lentur, kekerasan Impak, dan kepadatan massa juga. Hasil pengujian sifat fisis dan sifat mekanik komposit serat batang lontar menghasilkan nilai optimum densitas 1,19 x 10-3 Kg/m3, porositas 2,22%, penyerapan air 2,13%, kuat impak 39,80 J/m2, kuat lentur 20,77 MPa, dan kuat tekan 35,70 MPa.

Fabrication and characterization of palm lontar tree (borassus flabellifer) powder composites reinforced by polyester resin had been done as an alternative material for composite materials. The palm lontar tree powders were taken from the village of Mudik, a district of Nias, North Sumatera. On the other hand, lontar palm trees trunk were extracted from three different tree trunks namely the base, middle, and shoots using a 17,5 % NaOH for two hours. The obtained powders palm lontar trees were reinforced by polyester resin a matrix to make composite materials. The compositions of lontar palm fiber were varied by 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 gr of mass fraction. Testing of physical properties consists of density, porosity, water absorption. Testing of mechanical properties consists of impact test, compressive strength test and flexural strength test. Testing of lontar stem fiber content using the Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), the chemical content of this fiber is closely related to physical and mechanical properties such as compressive strength, bending stress, impact hardness, and mass density as well. The results of testing the physical properties and mechanical properties of lontar stem fibers produced the optimum density of 1,19 x 10-3 Kg/m3, porosity of 2.22%, water absorption of 2.13%, impact strength of 39.80 J/m2, flexural strength of 20.77 MPa , and 35.70 MPa compressive strength.