Pengaruh Perlakuan Panas Serat Terhadap Kekuatan Bending Komposit CANTULA-rHDPE

Abstract

The mechanical properties of fiber-reinforced polymer composite nature is not only dependent on the properties of the constituents, but also on the properties of the area around the fiber known as interfacial or bond interface. The load transfer from the matrix to the fiber takes place at the interfacial. Most of natural fibers easily absorb moisturely, it contrasts with the thermoplastic polymer. Another disadvantage of cellulosic materials in thermoplastic composites have thermal instability on thermoplastic processing temperature (about 200°C or higher) and a poor interface bonding between filler and matrix. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the treatment of the fiber surface bonding, one of the step is by heat treatment. In this study, the fiber is heated by using an oven with a temperature of 100^oC, 110^oC, 120^oC and 130^oC for 10 hours. Manufacture of composites made by mixing rHDPE with fibers that have been heat treated at a ratio of 70:30. Hot press making is done at the temperature of 170^oC for 15 minutes with a pressure of 50 bars. This experiment is testing the bending and interfacial bonding quality is observe by SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy). The result of the test shows that the bending strength decreases as the heat treatment temperature. The highest value of bending strength of 35.5 MPa and the smallest of 26.73

Keywords : Composite rHDPE-cantula,  Bending, Heat  treatment