Pengaruh Alkalisasi NaOH Terhadap Kekuatan Tarik Biokomposit Serat Daun Pandan Alas dengan Matriks Resin Poliester BQTN

Abstract

Pandanus tectorius leaf fiber exhibits considerable potential as a natural reinforcement material for biocomposites owing to its high cellulose content and robust fibrous structure. This study aims to investigate the influence of NaOH alkalization treatment on the tensile strength of biocomposites fabricated from BQTN polyester resin reinforced with Pandanus tectorius fibers. The experimental parameters include NaOH concentration (0%, 5%, and 10%), immersion time (3 hours and 5 hours), and fiber volume fraction (10% and 15%). Tensile tests were conducted in accordance with ASTM D638 standards, and the data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Pareto diagrams. The results revealed that the untreated composite exhibited the highest tensile strength, with an average value of 30.47 MPa at a 15% fiber volume fraction. Conversely, the alkali-treated specimens demonstrated a reduction in tensile strength with increasing NaOH concentration and immersion duration, reaching the lowest value of 19.60 MPa at 10% NaOH for 5 hours. ANOVA results indicated that fiber volume fraction had the most significant effect on mechanical performance, followed by NaOH concentration and immersion time. These findings suggest that the optimization of alkalization parameters is crucial to enhance fiber–matrix interfacial bonding without significantly compromising the overall mechanical properties of the composite.