Electronic Theses and Dissertation

Serat pelepah pisang merupakan bahan alami yang berpotensi digunakan sebagai penguat pada papan komposit. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh variasi panjang serat pelepah pisang terhadap sifat fisis (kerapatan, porositas, daya serap air dan pengembangan tebal), sifat mekanis (MOE dan MOR) dan sifat termal papan komposit. Papan komposit dibuat menggunakan campuran serat pelepah pisang dan resin epoksi dengan perbandingan berat 70:30 (%wt) dengan panjang serat 0,6 cm; 0,8 cm; 1,0 cm; 1,2 cm; dan 1,4 cm dan tersusun secara acak. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa panjang serat 1,0 cm menghasilkan kerapatan tertinggi sebesar 1,12 g/cm³, porositas terendah sebesar 21,48%, daya serap air terendah sebesar 6,35%, dan pengembangan tebal terendah 3,48%. Nilai Modulus of Rupture (MOR) tertinggi diperoleh pada panjang serat 1,0 cm sebesar 5,48 kgf/mm², sedangkan Modulus of Elasticity (MOE) tertinggi pada panjang serat 1,4 cm sebesar 2,978 kgf/mm². Nilai konduktivitas termal tertinggi pada panjang serat 1,0 cm sebesar 0,091 W/m°C dan terendah pada panjang serat 1,4 cm sebesar 0,073 W/m°C. Panjang serat 1,0 cm memberikan keseimbangan terbaik antara sifat fisis dan mekanis, sedangkan serat 1,4 cm menunjukkan kemampuan isolasi panas yang lebih baik. Papan komposit serat pelepah pisang menunjukkan hasil uji memenuhi standar yang ditetapkan oleh ANSI, sehingga memiliki potensi sebagai material ramah lingkungan untuk konstruksi ringan serta isolasi termal.

Kata Kunci: serat pelepah pisang, papan komposit, panjang serat, sifat fisis, konduktivitas termal

Banana leaf fibre is a natural material that has the potential to be used as a reinforcement in composite boards. This study aims to determine the effect of variations in banana leaf fibre length on the physical properties (density, porosity, water absorption and thickness expansion), mechanical properties (MOE and MOR) and thermal properties of composite boards. Composite boards were made using a mixture of banana leaf fibres and epoxy resin with a weight ratio of 70:30 (%wt) with fibre lengths of 0.6 cm, 0.8 cm, 1.0 cm, 1.2 cm, and 1.4 cm and arranged randomly. The results showed that a fibre length of 1.0 cm produced the highest density of 1.12 g/cm³, the lowest porosity 0f 21.48%, the lowest water absorption of 6.35%, and the lowest thickness expansion of 3.48%. The highest Modulus of Rupture (MOR) value was obtained at a fibre length of 1.0 cm, amounting to 5.48 kgf/mm², while the highest Modulus of Elasticity (MOE) was obtained at a fibre length of 1.4 cm, amounting to 2.978 kgf/mm². The highest thermal conductivity value was obtained at a fibre length of 1.0 cm, at 0.091 W/m°C, and the lowest at a fibre length of 1.4 cm, at 0.073 W/m°C. A fibre length of 1.0 cm provided the best balance between physical and mechanical properties, while a fibre length of 1.4 cm showed better heat insulation capabilities. Banana leaf fibre composite boards have been tested to meet ANSI standards, making them a promising environmentally friendly material for lightweight construction and thermal insulation. Keywords: Banana sheath fiber, fiber length, composite board, physical properties, mechanical properties, thermal properties, epoxy resin