The Effect of Biocomposite Material Composition with Natural Fiber Reinforced Polyester Matrix on Mechanical and Physical Strength

This study was conducted with the aim of determining the effect of natural fiber composition in polymer composites on the flexural strength and density of bio-composites with polyester matrix reinforced with ramie fiber, giant false agave (GFA), bamboo, and sugar cane fibers. Mechanical testing was carried out in the form of flexural strength testing and calculating density as a physical test. The composition of the matrix with fiber reinforcement was set at 70% polyester and 30% natural fiber. The variables used in this study were to create a dominant composition of fiber types in the form of a measured weight amount so as to produce a comparison of which type of natural fiber has a better test value. From the results of the flexural strength test, it was found that the bio-composite dominated by sugar cane fiber had the largest flexural strength value of 261.66 kg/cm2 while the bio-composite dominated by ramie and GFA sequentially produced flexural strengths of 101.465 kg/cm2 and 185.89 kg/cm2. The results of the density calculation show that the highest density was achieved by the bio-composite material with a dominant composition of hemp fiber (70% Polyester: 20% hemp fiber, 5% GFA fiber: 5% sugar cane fiber) of 1.049 g/cm3.