Tensile Loading on Composite Polymeric Foam Reinforced by Empty Fruit Bunch Waste (EFB)

Abstract

The utilization of Empty Fruit Bunch palm oil (EFB) waste into a material product that has high competitiveness is still limited in utilized.  It is open the possibility of EFB fiber is processed into other materials or structures.  So, the economic value of the waste material can be raised and at the same time can give solutions for handling waste products previously. Data obtained from the Aceh Forestry and Plantation Office in 2009, in Aceh there are 25 units of palm oil processing factory with a total operating capacity of 551.12 tons per hour. From the data, using the assumption of 20% Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFB) will produce solid waste in the form of EFB in a day of 110,224 tons. If this waste is not being utilized it will disrupt the environment. EFB waste has been mixed with Resin, polymeric foam agent and catalyst to produce new polymeric foam composite material reinforced by EFB fibers which are light and also strength.  The tensile test was performed to determine the maximum strength of polymeric foam material composite reinforced by EFB fibers and the test specimens using the D-638 standard. The variations of composition were applied on the specimen test based on the weight of each composition, and mesh 80.  From the test results obtained a loaded force and a maximum strength average of the materials composite are respectively 874,267 N and 8,921 MPa.