Abstract
This study aims to analyze the alkali treatment in improving the quality of the fiber as a reinforcement of natural fiber-based composite. The objects used in this study is that coconut coir fiber cross-sectional area is focused on direct measurements with the aid of a microscope Zeiss Axio Cam ICC and equipped with ZEN 2012 software as well as determining the mechanical properties without alkali treatment. The alkali treatment in the amount of 3 % can decrease the surface wide of fiber to ± 22.78% on the soaking of 1 and 2 hours, meanwhile the soaking of 3,4 and 5 hours decrease to ± 31,14% from the fiber without soaking is 0,032166 ± 0,011354 mm2 . Results of testing the mechanical properties of the fiber which refers to the standard ASTM C 1557 the highest tensile strength of 147.52 MPa occurs on the fiber without alkali treatment and 120.85 MPa in the alkali treatment with immersion 5 hours. A decrease in physical and mechanical properties of the coco fiber due to alkali treatment caused of the release of the components of the binding between the fibers in a single fiber.
Highlights
Conventional fiber known has been widely used over the last few decades as a reinforcing material thermoplastic polymer matrix composites
Components with materials reinforced natural fibers can be decomposed by bacteria so can save the environment from pollution
For that efforts continue to be made as an effort to develop a composite material that can be decomposed naturally [2,8]
Summary
Conventional fiber known (glass, aramid, carbon, etc.) has been widely used over the last few decades as a reinforcing material thermoplastic polymer matrix composites. The fibers are mixed into plastics in order to improve the mechanical properties of polymers and reduce the cost of the final product as reported by Chen [9]. Increased use of natural fiber-based material that can be renewed is one important issue to reduce the use of synthetic fiber-based composite materials. Where the use of synthetic fibers can damage the environment and bring on global climate change. Components with materials reinforced natural fibers can be decomposed by bacteria (biodegradability) so can save the environment from pollution. Josep [10] reported that the use of natural fibers is a source of abundant, variations in fiber, low cost, low density, the specific strength and high modulus
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