PENGARUH PENAMBAHAN PATI TALAS TERHADAP SIFAT MEKANIK DAN SIFAT BIODEGRADABEL PLASTIK CAMPURAN POLIPROPILENA DAN GULA JAGUNG

ABSTRAK Telah dilakukan penelitian tentang pengaruh penambahan pati talas terhadap sifat mekanik dan degradabilitas plastik campuran polipropilena dan gula jagung. Pada penelitian ini dibuat 5 sampel dengan penambahan pati talas yang divariasikan sebanyak 0 g, 9 g, 12 g, 15 g, dan 18 g. Terhadap sampel kemudian dilakukan pengujian kuat lentur, kuat tarik, dan degradabilitas. Pengujian degradabilitas dilakukan dengan cara penguburan selama 40 hari. Hasil menunjukkan bahwa penambahan pati talas cendrung menurunkan kekuatan mekanis, namun mempercepat proses degradasi. Nilai kuat lentur tertinggi diperoleh dari sampel dengan penambahan pati talas 9 g, yaitu 37,44 N/mm2. Nilai kuat tarik tertinggi juga didapatkan pada sampel dengan penambahan pati talas 9 g, yaitu 5,19 N/mm2. Sampel yang paling cepat terdegradasi adalah sampel dengan penambahan pati talas sebanyak 18 g, dengan laju degradasi rata-rata 0,68% per hari.Kata Kunci : polipropilena, pati talas, gula jagung, degradabilitas, kuat lentur dan kuat tarikAbstractThe study on the influence of the addition of taro starch on the mechanical properties and biodegradability of polypropylene with corn sugar has been conducted. In this study, 5 samples were made by adding taro starch with variation of 0 g, 9 g, 12 g, 15 g, and 18 g. The mechanical properties and degradability were examined. Examination of degradability conducted by burrying of the sample for 40 days. Results show that the addition of taro starch tend to decrease mechanical properties, otherwise increasing degradation rate of the samples. The highest flexural strength values were obtained from the samples with 9 g addition of taro starch which is 37.44 N/mm2. The highest tensile strength also were obtained from the samples with 9 g addition of taro starch, which is 5.19 N/mm2. Sample with highest degradability rate resulted from addition of taro starch as much as 18 g, which is 0.68% /day.Keywords : polypropylene, taro starch, corn sugar, degradability, flexural strength and tensile strengt