FABRIKASI DAN KARAKTERISASI SIFAT MEKANIS DAN FISIS KOMPOSIT HIBRID LAMINAT NANAS / E-GLASS / POLIPROPILEN DENGAN VARIASI PERBANDINGAN SERAT NANAS DAN SERAT E-GLASS
Abstract
Materials made of metals such as aluminum, iron mixture and chrome on car components like car body and interior of the car has a property difficult to recycle, not resistant to corrosion, and the price is relatively expensive so that necessary alternative subtitute materials such as natural fibers. Natural fibers have properties environmentally friendly, lightweight, and resistant to corrosion. One of the natural fiber that could potentially be used as an alternative material for replacing metal is a pineapple fiber. In Indonesia, waste from pineapple fiber is abundant and has not been used optimally. The goals of this study are to fabricate the composite of the pineapple fiber / E-glass fiber/polypropylene as an alternative to bumper car and knowing the effect of ratio variation of pineapple fiber and E-glass fiber towards impact toughness and water absorption composite.
Composites with the matrix and filler ratio of 70:30 (volume fraction) were fabricated by hand lay-up using the hot press. Fillers are consisting of pineapple and E-glass fibers in 6 mm length with a fiber orientation randomly varied using the ratio of pineapple fiber / E-glass (2: 1), (1: 1), and (1: 2), and arranged in15 lamina. Impact toughness test to ASTM D 5942 and water absorption test to ASTM D 570 was performed in all composite specimens. Moreover, the characterization of the results of impact test fracture and microstructure of the cross-section of each performed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical test.
The results showed that the impact toughness and water absorption increases with increasing volume fraction of pineapple fiber. The highest impact toughness demonstrated for the hybrid composite with the ratio of pineapple fiber / E-glass (2: 1) was equal to 0.0193 J / mm2. While water absorption and thickness swelling for the hybrid composites with fiber ratio of pineapple / E-glass (1: 2) of 5.69% and 3.76% for 24 hours, respectively, were the lowest. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical photographs indicated that the composite with the ratio of pineapple fiber / E-glass (2: 1) have fewer voids, debonding and fiber pullout compared to those formed in composites with the ratio of pineapple fiber / E-glass fiber (1: 1) and (1: 2). Besides, the microstructural characterization results indicated the bond between the filler and matrix bind to one another, however the distribution of fillers within a relatively uneven matrix.