Karakteristik Oriented Strand Board (OSB) dari Vascular Bundles Limbah Batang Kelapa Sawit Berpengikat Methyl Methacrylate (MMA) dan Styrene

Abstract

Ketersediaan kayu dari hutan untuk keperluan bahan baku produk kayu komposit jumlahnya semakin terbatas akibat dari deforestasi. Satu di antara upaya yang dapat dilakukan untuk mensubstitusi bahan baku kayu adalah dengan memanfaatkan vascular bundles limbah batang kelapa sawit. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengevaluasi karakteristik oriented strand board (OSB) yang dibuat dari vascular bundles limbah batang kelapa sawit berdasarkan posisi ketinggian batang berpengikat MMA (Methyl methacrylate) dan styrene serta melihat pengaruh penambahan katalis MEKP (Methyl Ethyl Ketone Peroxide). Metode pembuatan OSB dilaksanakan skala laboratorium dengan bahan baku vascular bundles dibedakan atas bagian ujung, tengah, pangkal, dan campuran dengan pengikat MMA dan styrene dengan perlakuan penambahan katalis MEKP dan tanpa katalis MEKP. Setelah dilakukan pengkondisian, dievaluasi karakteristiknya dengan melakukan pengujian sifat fisis, mekanis berdasarkan standar JIS A 5908-2003 tipe 8 base particleboard and decorative particleboard, dan pengujian lanjut terdiri atas SEM, FTIR, dan DSC. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan sifat fisis yaitu kerapatan dan kadar air sudah memenuhi standar kecuali pada pengembangan tebal. Sementara itu sifat mekanis yaitu MOR kering hampir seluruhnya memenuhi standar dan KPS sudah memenuhi standar. Sedangkan nilai MOE kering dan keteguhan rekat (IB) belum memenuhi standar. Hasil pengujian lanjut SEM memungkinkan pengikat berpenetrasi dan melakukan ikatan mekanis, hasil pengujian DSC menunjukkan MMA terpolimerisasi dengan penambahan styrofoam terbukti adanya peak pada sekitaran suhu 100oC, dan hasil pengujian FTIR menunjukkan penambahan styrene untuk mempolimerisasi MMA, mampu menghasilkan grafting MMA-styrene-vascular bundles. Posisi ketinggian vascular bundles dalam batang kelapa sawit dan penambahan MEKP hampir secara keseluruhan berpengaruh terhadap karakteristik OSB yang dihasilkan.

The availability of wood from forest for wood composite products raw materials has been increased due to deforestation. Utilization of vascular bundles derived from oil palm stem residue is an effort to substitute wood raw materials. The objectives of this study were to evaluate characteristic of oriented strand board (OSB) made from vascular bundles of oil palm stem residue based on the height position bonded with MMA (Methyl methacrylate) and styrene and to test the effect of addition of MEKP (Methyl Ethyl Ketone Peroxide) catalyst. The method of making OSB is carried out in a laboratory scale using raw material of vascular bundles with different positions, namely top, middle, base, and mixture using binders of MMA and styrene with and without the addition of MEKP catalyst. After conditioning, the characteristics were evaluated by testing the physical and mechanical properties based on JIS A 5908-2003 standard type 8 base particleboard and decorative particleboard. Further advance testings consisting of SEM, FTIR, and DSC were also carried out. The results showed that the physical properties of density and moisture content met the standard except for thickness swelling. The mechanical properties of MOR in dry conditions almost entirely met the standard and screw holding power did, too. Unfortunately, the MOE value for dry condition and internal bond (IB) did not meet the standard. The results of advance testing, namely SEM allowed the binder to penetrate and perform mechanical bonding, DSC test result showed MMA polymerized with the addition of styrofoam, which was proven that there was a peak at around 100oC, and FTIR test result showed the addition of styrene to polymerize MMA, was able to form MMA-styrene-vascular bundles grafting. Overall, the position of the vascular bundles in the oil palm trunk and the addition of the MEKP almost entirely affected the characteristics of the OSB.