Pemanfaatan Limbah Plastik Polietilena (PE) sebagai Matriks Komposit dengan Bahan Penguat Serat Kaca

Abstract

The research has been carried out about making composite from polyethylene (PE) plastic waste and fiber glass as reinforcement agent. In this research, the various of weight ratio (w/w) of PE waste and fiber glass were (90:10), (80:20), (70:30), (60:40) and (50:50) (%). The mixing was done manually, then the mixture was pressed by hot-press. To know the optimum ratio of PE waste and fiber glass, the composite was analyzed by pulling strength and elongation analysis. The maximum was achieved for ratio (60:40) with a tensile strength 2.48 Kgf/mm2 and elongation 56.6 %. Then, this optimum ratio of PE waste and fiber glass added with xylene as wetting agent with the variation of concentration 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25%. The composite that produced then analized by pulling strength and elongation analysis, thermal analysis with DTA and surface analysis with SEM. The maximum of pulling strength and elongation analysis was achieved for adding xylene 20% with tensile strength 3.82 Kgf/mm2 and elongation 58.78%. from the result of thermal analysis with DTA, showed that the added of fiber glass and xylene increasing the conductivity thermal of composite. From the result of surface analysis with SEM, showed the changed of the specimen’s surface before and after the added of xylene, by the added of xylene the surface become smoother then before the added of xylene.