Sifat Fisik dan Mekanik Serat Katun Berlapis Polyvinyl Alcohol sebagai Bio-Synthetic Fishing Gear Material

Abstract

Fenomena ghost fishing terjadi karena sebagian besar alat tangkap berbahan sintetis sulit terurai di lautan sehingga dapat mengancam keberlanjutan ekosistem laut. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menentukan sifat fisik dan sifat mekanik tali katun berlapis polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Pelapisan menggunakan larutan PVA bertujuan meningkatkan kekuatan putus, kemuluran, dan ketahanan degradasi tali katun. Tali berlapis PVA menunjukkan kekuatan putus rata-rata 42,68 kgf, meningkat 94,26% dibandingkan tali tanpa pelapisan. Kemuluran tali berlapis PVA mencapai 20,11%, lebih tinggi dibandingkan tali katun tanpa pelapisan yang kemulurannya hanya 13%. Uji perendaman dalam air laut menunjukkan umur teknis tali berlapis PVA mencapai 54 minggu pasca perendaman, sedangkan tali katun tanpa pelapisan hanya bertahan selama 17 minggu pasca perendaman. Hasil ini menunjukkan pelapisan PVA mampu memperpanjang umur pakai tali katun dengan menghambat proses degradasi. Tali katun berlapis PVA direkomendasikan sebagai bahan substitusi tali ris bawah, tali pemberat, serta tali pengikat antara tali ris bawah dan tali pemberat pada alat tangkap trammel net.

Ghost fishing occurs because most fishing gear made from synthetic materials is difficult to degrade in the ocean, threatening the sustainability of marine ecosystems. This study aims to determine the physical and mechanical properties of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-coated cotton ropes. The PVA coating process aims to enhance the breaking strength, elongation, and degradation resistance of cotton ropes. PVA-coated ropes exhibited an average breaking strength of 42.68 kgf, a 94.26% increase compared to uncoated ropes. The elongation of PVA-coated ropes reached 20.11%, higher than the control ropes, which had an elongation of only 13%. Immersion tests in seawater demonstrated that the technical lifespan of PVA-coated ropes extended to 54 weeks after immersion, whereas uncoated cotton ropes lasted only 17 weeks. These findings indicate that PVA coating effectively prolongs the usability of cotton ropes by inhibiting the degradation process. PVA-coated cotton ropes are recommended as substitute materials for bottom lines, weight lines, and straps between bottom lines and weight lines in trammel nets.