Investigation of Natural Fiber on the Mechanical Properties of Composites with are Combination of Aramid and Carbon Fiber as Reinforcement for Body Armor Applications

Abstract The manufacture of natural fiber composites provides quite good material value benefits, especially for gnetum gnemon fibers added with carbon fibers and aramid fibers to become alternative body armor materials. This study aims to determine the characteristics of the mechanical properties of natural fiber composite materials and the addition of carbon fibers and aramid fibers that have the potential to be used in various applications. The manufacture of composites uses the VARTM method. Sample testing was carried out using tensile, impact, and hardness tests and SEM. The highest tensile test results were found in the Aramid + Carbon fiber variation specimen, namely 255.08 MPa. Then in the Aramid + Carbon fiber + Gnetum gnemon variation specimen with 5% NaOH treatment, the tensile strength was 194.83 MPa. The Aramid + Carbon fiber + Gnetum gnemon variation specimen with 5% NaOH treatment had an elongation value of 3%EL. The tensile test values of several specimens provide the assumption of a fairly brittle and strong composite material. The 5% NaOH treatment of the gnetum gnemon material fiber can provide a fairly good tensile strength value. Then in the Aramid + Carbon fiber + Gnetum gnemon variation specimen with 5% NaOH treatment, the impact value was 18.9 J/mm 2 . The Aramid + Carbon fiber + Gnetum gnemon variation specimen with 5% NaOH treatment gave a fairly good hardness value, namely, 68.28 HRF when compared to the Aramid + Carbon fiber + Gnetum gnemon variation specimen without NaOH treatment. SEM depicts the structure of the reinforcing fibers arranged densely in the matrix. Although there were voids that were spread in a limited manner between several layers of fibers.