Abstract :
Composite is the latest alternative in the world of science and technology
today. The material being developed is a composite made from natural fibers.
Mechanical bonding of fiber-reinforced composite pineapple leaves can be
improved by chemical treatment such as alkali. The alkali treatment with a 15%
presentation aims to investigate the effect of soaking variations on pineapple leaf
fiber composites on bending strength and SEM test.
The main ingredients used are pineapple leaf fiber and epoxy matrix with
a hand lay-up molding method and a random arrangement of fibers. Using a
fraction of fiber 15% fiber and 85% epoxy resin with a variation of alkaline
immersion time 0, 30, 60, 90, 120 minutes. Bending test specimens refer to ASTM
D 790-03 and SEM testing to determine the morphological structure of the
specimen fracture surfaces after bending testing.
The results of the highest bending strength study were obtained in 60
minutes alkaline immersion at 170.101 MPa and the lowest bending strength was
at 0 minutes alkaline immersion (without alkaline treatment) at 112,160 MPa.
SEM image results on 60 minutes immersion showed the number of breaking
fibers in the fracture section, so it can be concluded that the fibers and the matrix
bind well and have high bending strength