Electronic Theses and Dissertation

Tandan kosong kelapa sawit (TKKS) merupakan limbah biomassa yang berpotensi dimanfaatkan sebagai bahan penguat pada papan partikel biokomposit. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis pengaruh variasi ukuran partikel dan komposisi TKKS terhadap sifat fisis, mekanis, dan termal papan partikel biokomposit berbasis Unsaturated Polyester Resin (UPR), serta menentukan kondisi optimum yang menghasilkan karakteristik terbaik. Variasi ukuran partikel yang digunakan berada pada rentang 60–140 mesh dengan komposisi tetap TKKS:UPR 80:20 (%vol/%vol), sedangkan variasi komposisi dilakukan pada rentang TKKS:UPR 60:40 hingga 80:20 (%vol/%vol) menggunakan ukuran partikel 120 mesh. Karakterisasi meliputi pengujian kerapatan, porositas, pengembangan tebal, Modulus of Elasticity (MoE), Modulus of Rupture (MoR), dan konduktivitas termal. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa semakin halus ukuran partikel TKKS, kerapatan meningkat, sedangkan porositas dan pengembangan tebal menurun. Kondisi tersebut diikuti oleh peningkatan nilai MoE, MoR, dan konduktivitas termal. Ukuran partikel 140 mesh menghasilkan karakteristik terbaik dengan kerapatan 1,3804 g/cm³, porositas 3,6850%, pengembangan tebal 1,7757%, MoE 238,544 kgf/mm², MoR 1,8417 kgf/mm², dan konduktivitas termal 0,0797 W/m°C. Pada variasi komposisi, peningkatan kandungan TKKS menyebabkan kerapatan menurun, porositas dan pengembangan tebal meningkat, nilai MoE meningkat, nilai MoR menurun, serta konduktivitas termal semakin rendah. Berdasarkan keseimbangan sifat fisis, mekanis, dan termal, komposisi TKKS:UPR 70:30 (%vol/%vol) ditetapkan sebagai komposisi optimum. Seluruh sampel memiliki nilai konduktivitas termal di bawah 0,1 W/m°C sehingga berpotensi digunakan sebagai material isolasi termal ramah lingkungan.

Kata Kunci: Papan Partikel Biokomposit, TKKS, Unsaturated Polyester Resin.

Oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) are biomass waste with the potential to be utilized as reinforcement in biocomposite particleboards. This study aimed to analyze the effect of particle size variation and OPEFB composition on the physical, mechanical, and thermal properties of Unsaturated Polyester Resin (UPR)-based biocomposite particleboards, as well as to determine the optimum conditions that produce the best characteristics. Particle size variations of 60, 80, 100, 120, and 140 mesh were used at a constant OPEFB:UPR composition of 80:20 (vol%/vol%), while composition variations were conducted using a particle size of 120 mesh with OPEFB:UPR ratios of 60:40, 65:35, 70:30, 75:25, and 80:20 (vol%/vol%). Characterization included density, porosity, thickness swelling, Modulus of Elasticity (MoE), Modulus of Rupture (MoR), and thermal conductivity tests. The results showed that finer OPEFB particle sizes increased density while reducing porosity and thickness swelling. These changes were accompanied by increases in MoE, MoR, and thermal conductivity. The 140-mesh particle size produced the best characteristics, with a density of 1.3804 g/cm³, porosity of 3.6850%, thickness swelling of 1.7757%, MoE of 238.544 kgf/mm², MoR of 1.8417 kgf/mm², and thermal conductivity of 0.0797 W/m°C. For composition variations, increasing the OPEFB content resulted in lower density but higher porosity and thickness swelling. From a mechanical perspective, higher OPEFB content increased the MoE value but decreased the MoR value, while thermal conductivity tended to decrease, indicating improved thermal insulation performance. Based on the balance of physical, mechanical, and thermal properties, the OPEFB:UPR composition of 70:30 (vol%/vol%) was determined as the optimum composition. All samples exhibited thermal conductivity values below 0.1 W/m°C, indicating good thermal insulation characteristics. These findings suggest that OPEFB-UPR biocomposites have strong potential for development as environmentally friendly biomass-based thermal insulation materials. Keywords: Biocomposite Particleboard, OPEFB, Unsaturated Polyester Resin.