Fly Ash/Coconut fiber reinforced polymer Composites: Effect on physical properties (Density, water Absorption, and thickness Swelling)
Farid Mulana, Muhammad Prayogie Aulia, Sri Aprilia
Abstract
Using unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) as a composite matrix still has physical flaws such as density, water absorption, and thickness swelling. Efforts to improve these physical properties can be made by adding filler. Natural ingredients such as coconut fiber and fly ash can be used as fillers. Both have advantages in terms of obtaining composite materials with the ability of the filler material , in this case, coconut fiber and fly ash. In this study, we want to know the effect of filler hybridization on the physical properties of the composite material. Mold pressing at a pressure of 250 bar was used in this study. Coconut fiber was soaked with 5 % NaOH to remove unwanted substances like lignin and hemicellulose . The ratio of coconut fiber filler to fly ash was used as the independent variable, with ratios of (10:4), (7:4), (4:4), (4:7), and (4:10)%wt. The density value obtained increases with the increase of fly ash amount. Water absorption increased in the composite with a higher ratio of coconut fiber to fly ash. The results of the thickness swelling showed that the thickness changed when more coconut fiber than fly ash was added.