OPTIMASI KEKUATAN TARIK KOMPOSIT SERAT IJUK (ARENGA PINATA) DAN MATRIKS RECYCLED POLYPROPYLENE (RPP) DENGAN VARIASI MASSA

The aim of this research is to investigate the influence of fiber mass fraction and extraction treatment on tensile strength of palm fiber reinforced with recycled polypropylene composites.The materials are palm fibers, Recycled Polypropylene (RPP), hexane, H2SO4, and NaOH. Palm fiber are extracted with hexane and soaked with H2SO4 for 2 hours and NaOH for 1 hours. Palm fiber reinforced recycled polypropylene composites were arranged randomly and pressed by moulding technique. The composites were tested by means of universal testing machine (UTM). Visual inspections were perfomed to investigate the mechanism of fracture.The results showed composites with the variation of fiber and matrix mass fraction 0: 100, 10:90, 20:80, 30:70, 40:60, and 50:50 obtained the highest tensile strength and compressive strength on 40:60 fiber and matrix mass fraction that is equal to 40,73 N/mm3 for tensile strength and 23,60 N/mm3 for compressive strength. It also had a lower water absorption and thickness swelling, that were 9,28% for water absorption and amounted to 5.70% for thickness swelling. Keyword : palm fiber, fiber and matrix mass fraction, alkali treatment, tensil