PENGEMBANGAN KOMPOSIT MATRIKS POLIMER BERPENGUAT SERAT SERABUT KELAPA

Abstract

Highly amount of plastic usage for daily needs nowadays has caused the large amount of plastic waste in the nature. Therefore, the writer initiated a research towards coconut fiber as composite reinforcement to replace the usage of fiberglass composite reinforce with the goal to reduce the plastic usage in engineering world. In this research the writer used coconut fiber alkalized with 5% of NaOH and Unsaturated Polyester Resin as Matrix with 1% MEKPO as catalist. The writer was using hand lay-up method to cast the specimen with random orientation. 3 cm long coconut fiber is used as reinforce with 5%, 10% and 15% composition. The results of tensile test for 0% is 16,5 MPa, for 5% is 16,5 MPa, for 10% is 13 MPa, for 15% is 4 MPa. Therefore, the results of bending test for 0% is 46,38 MPa, for 5% is 7,95 MPa, for 10% is 38,43 MPa, for 15% is 16,83 MPa