PERILAKU WATER ABSORPTION PADA KOMPOSIT HYBRID SERAT AGEL TENUN DAN SERAT GELAS

This study aimed to investigate the effect of alkali treatment and stacking sequences on water absorption and flexural
strength in woven agel and glass fibers reinforced hybrid
composites. The research materials are woven agel fiber
(Corypha gebanga), E-200 glass fiber, unsaturated
polyester resin Yukalac 157 BQTN, and catalyst of methyl
ethyl ketone peroxide (MEKP). The alkali treatment is
carried out on the woven agel fibers by soaking the fiber
in 4% NaOH solution for 1 hour. Then the fiber is washed
with fresh water and dried for 48 hours. Manufacturing
techniques used vacuum bagging with suction pressure of
70 cmHg at room temperature. The amount of reinforcing
fiber 7 fibers consists of 3 glass fibers and 4 agel woven
fibers. The water absorption test uses a 3.5% NaCl
solution for 1080 hours at room temperature. Water
absorption test specimens based on ASTM D570
standard. The research results showed that the alkali
treatment with glass fiber arrangement on the specimen
surface effectively reduced water absorption and
increased the flexural strength of woven agel and glass
fibers hybrid composites. The lowest moisture content in
equilibrium and diffusion coefficient were 8.67%, the of
5.74 x 10-12 m2
/s, while the flexural strength before and
after immersion were 135 MPa and 125 MPa respectively,
or a decrease of about 7%.