DefinePK

Abstract

Natural fiber of EFB which is recently still categorized as waste material is very potential to be utilized as composite reinforced material, however it is remain constrained on resulting composite strength. Many treatment has been applying to obtain better mechanical bonding, however it was costly higher rather than its result and some did not increase the strength compare with matrix material strength itself. Previous researchers described that tensile strength of EFB was not as good as other natural fibers such as bamboo, sisal, pineapple leaf, and many others, furthermore it contains residual oil and several harmful minerals which had weakened its composite, and therefore it is necessary for selecting part of natural fiber EFB which has best mechanical strength. This study explored morphology of an EFB, and separating it to 3 parts, i.e.: upper stem, main stem, and fruit stem. Those 3 parts was examined and base on tensile strength analysis, the leaf stem has best mechanical strength, and it also shown more stiff structure compare with 2 others. Tensile strength analysis result using ASTM D3822-01 standard shown that average tensile strength of an EFB leaf stem single fiber was 152.85 MPa, while upper stem fiber and main stem fiber was 108.29 MPa and 125.13 respectively.