A Tensile Strength Analysis of Hibiscus cannabinus L. Fiber and Corn Silk Reinforced Polyester Resin Matrix Hybrid Composite and Optimization of Design Parameters Using Response Surface Methodology

Abstract

The increasing demand for materials for manufacturing products needs to be met with the development of new materials. This research aimed at developing a composite of Hibiscus cannabinus L. Fiber, corn silk, and polyester resin. In the first stage of this research, a composite of a variety of mass fractions and fiber length was made. The mass fraction used in the Hibiscus cannabinus L. Fiber: corn silk was (10%: 10%), (12.5%: 7.5%), and (15%: 5%). The fiber lengths of Hibiscus cannabinus L. Fiber and corn silk were 30, 60, and 90 mm. The method used to make composite materials was the hand lay-up method using molds. In the second stage, the composite material was tested with a tensile test. The standard used was ASTM D 638M-84 M-1. The third stage was to optimize tensile test results by using the Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The result of RSM optimization was Hibiscus cannabinus L. Fiber: corn silk composition (16%: 4%) with the fiber length of 102.4 mm, having a tensile strength of 3.65 Kg/mm2.