EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE POST CURING ON

IMPACT STRENGTH POLYESTER COMPOSITE -

COCONUT COIR FIBER

J. D. Nasution1, A. Mataram1, a), W. Hasan1, A. Y. Budiman1, U. A. Anwar2,

N. Anisya1, N. Ayu1 , S. Rizal3

INTRODUCTION
Abstract. Post curing is process performed in the form of warming with the specific goal; to increase properties,
which is owned of composite. The goal of this research is learn about the impact of the post curing agains the forces
of impact composite polyester fiber coconut husk with a variety of heating temperature 600C, 700C, 800C,
900C,1000C that will be compared with specimens without the post curing. A specimens was made by using the
method mixing to mixing of materials and method of hand lay up for the manufacture of the specimens with the
standards ASTM D 256 where the volume composite made uniform every specimen that is 70% polyester and 30%
coconut husk. Specimens the heated in the oven convensional each for an hour. A specimen that has beeen ready for
testing performed impact using the impact mory testing. The results of testing impact by the conclusion that there
has been an improving in the value of the energy impact on average and energy impact the unity of the average as
the improving in the post curing. It is because the movement of composite and also hole what is in the composites
to be reduced as well as the bond each other for (cross linking) that can improve the mechanical testing. The highest
strengths are in a warming T=1000C the 18,509 J to energy impact the average (E) and 0,1434 J.mm-2 to energy
impact the unity of the average (W).

METHODOLOGY
In this case the research uses a methodology that includes literature
study, material preparation, specimen making, specimen heating,
testing, data processing, and discussion of results, as in the following
scheme: at the initial stage, the research was carried out by preparing
specimens starting from looking for coconut fiber waste to looking for
references from journals in order to get a good composite made from
coconut fiber. After the material has been prepared and has been
thoroughly washed, prepare the polyester resin matrix, water, 5%
NaOH solution, catalyst and finally distillation. the preparation of
coco fiber begins with separating it from the coconut shell and then
combing it so that it becomes a long strand of fiber, after being
Figure 3 Impact Test Specimens
separated, the fiber is then washed and dried so that there are no
substances from outside that will affect the strength of the composite.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The effect of post curing variations has been carried out in the
manufacture of composites from coconut fiber, by using
Impact testing, the mechanical properties of a composite can
be known. The effect test specimens is ready for testing. Here
are the results of effect testing has done is in :
Table 3. Results of Impact Test

Figure 5 Graph of the relationship between the impact energy

(E) on average by comparison post curing temperature
variation and non post curing

From the results’ test has effect the data obtained and then do
the counting manually by using a formula and also
statistically analyzed using Microsoft Excel. Obtained average
yield of effect energy (E) at the highest tempertaur 1000C is
18.509J and the minimum score of the specimen non post
curing is equal to 12.375 A. The results for the average energy
per unit area (W) with the highest score are also in the
variation of heating temperature 1000C result is 0.1434 J.mm-
2 and a minimum value on non-post curing specimens of
0.0959 J.mm-2. It can be surveyed in the figure below:
The curing process on the composite can reduce the gap in the
intermediate matrix and the fiber so as to improve the
mechanical properties of the composite. It can be seen from
the graph above, that as the temperature increases during
post curing, the mechanical properties of the coconut fiber
composite also increase.
CONCLUSION
Improving impact strength both at the average impact energy
as well as the impact energy per unit area of the cross section
(Wrata average) as you post curing temperature of the heating
caused by the rise in temperature to Tg causes the resin
molecules rebuild themselves. The heating process with post
curing This may also increase the total of cross-bonding (cross
linking) to the composite so that it will improve its mechanical
properties
The score of optimum strength on average impact energy)
specimens obtained at T = 1000C is 18.509 J while the
minimum strength of the specimen non post curing is 12.375 J.
On the effect energy per unit area of the cross section also on
T = 1000C is equal to 0.1434 J.mm-2 and minimum score of
the specimen non post curing is 0.0959 J.mm-2 .

Figure 4 Graph of the relationship between the value of the

impact energy per unit area (W) average temperature
variation in the ratio post and non-post curing curing

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thanks to the support of research funds from the budget of DIPA BLU Sriwijaya
University, Winning Sateks Research Skim 2021