PENGARUH KADAR PERENDAMAN HIDROGEN PEROKSIDA PADA KOMPOSIT FIBER TEBU EPOKSI DENGAN METODE HAND LAY UP UNTUK BODI MOBIL

Composite is a material formed by combining two or more different components to achieve enhanced mechanical properties. In this study, epoxy resin was used as the matrix and sugarcane bagasse fiber as an environmentally friendly natural reinforcement. To improve adhesion between the fiber and the matrix, the fibers were treated using hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) solution with varying concentrations: UT 0%, UP 3%, UP 4%, and UP 5%, with an immersion time of 60 minutes. The composite fabrication was carried out using the hand lay-up method with an RTV-14 silicone rubber mold. The tests conducted included density testing, tensile testing, fracture pattern observation, and FTIR analysis. The density test showed that increasing H₂O₂ concentration led to an increase in composite density, with the highest density recorded at UP 5% (1.1115 g/cm³) and the lowest at UT 0% (0.9652 g/cm³). The tensile test results showed the highest tensile strength at UP 5% (32.22 MPa) and the lowest at UT 0% (13.41 MPa). The maximum strain was obtained at UP 4% (23%), but it decreased at UP 5% (15.1%), indicating possible fiber structure degradation at higher concentrations. The highest elastic modulus was recorded at UP 5% with a value of 248.14 MPa. Fracture pattern observation revealed fiber pull-out and debonding in untreated composites, while the UP 5% specimens showed a dominant overload mechanism. FTIR analysis confirmed lignin degradation due to H₂O₂ treatment, indicated by reduced intensity in the aromatic group absorption peaks.
Keywords: Hydrogen Peroxide, Hand Lay-Up Method, Epoxy Resin, Sugarcane Fiber