Alternative Utilization of Rattan Bark Fiber as Bio-Nano Reinforced Plastic (Composite) and Possible Applications for Automotive Components

Abstract

RalWI bark fiber is waste of raw ran.an production activities. It usually used for roofing houses and strap goods in the traditional markets. Rattan bark fiber containing about 40"/e cellulose, \\hich was potential to be used as filler for aU1omotivc components (or recycling). Nanotechnology based on nano particks with High Energy Milling (HEM) has been applied in this research to find the optimum particle size to be implemented as automotive component filler. Three HEM has been applied (l hour, S hours, and 10 hours), and without HEM (0 hours) as control. Measurable particle size is the size of the single particle. Data in the form of three particle size distributions, intensity, number and volume of distrib111ion, so it can he asswncd to describe the overall condition of the sample. The resuh shows that S hours milling produce the smallest pmticlc size (16.22 run) and z averages (129.78 run). Particle Size Analyzer (PSA) rcsuhs was related to the Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images of S hour milling. particle become smaller and loolc the same or homogcneous as balls. These resuh indicate that the cellulose in the form of three-dimensional IWIO particles arc spherical, and the mechanical tests shows that bio-composite ranan bark fiber performance was highest among the other natural composites (kcnaf, acacia, water hyacinth, banana, and coconut).