EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF VARIATIONS IN FIBER TYPES AND VOLUME FRACTIONS OF UNSATURATED POLYMER RESIN (UPR) COMPOSITES ON THE MECHANICAL AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MATERIAL
Novi Laura Indrayani, Riri Sadiana, Fatimah Dian Ekawati, Yopi Handoyo

Universitas Islam 45

Abstract

Biocomposites are a type of material that comes from organic base materials and will decompose more easily when they become waste. Many products currently come from composites, the existence of biocomposites will of course reduce the amount of waste. In this research, biocomposite materials will be made with 2 variations of fiber types with an Unsaturated Polymer Resin (UPR) matrix and volume fraction. The fibers used include palm tree fiber and sea pandan fiber. Biocomposites are made into four types of specimens with different volume fractions, namely 5% fiber with 95% matrix- 10% fiber with 90% matrix- 15%fiber with 85%matrix- and 20% fiber with 80% matrix using the hand lay-up method. The results of making biocomposites were tested for physical properties in the form of density, water absorption and swelling tests and mechanical tests with tensile tests and impact tests. The physical property values &#8203-&#8203-appear to be almost the same for each fiber. Meanwhile, the mechanical properties of palm fiber biocomposites show the highest impact strength compared to other fibers, obtained at the KSI3 fiber volume fraction of 30,860 kJ/m2. The tensile strength value of the palm fiber biocomposite can also accept stress to produce a deformation value of 25.73 MPa.

Keywords: Fiber biocomposites, volume fraction, hand lay-up method, unsaturated polyester resin, mechanical properties test, physical properties test.

Topic: Engineering