DEVELOPMENT OF BANANA FIBERS REINFORCED EPOXYGYPSUM COMPOSITE

Banana fiber composites are developed from banana fiber of Pisang Abu, epoxy and
gypsum. The banana fibers were extracted and dried at 60°C. The composites were test
for 30vol% and 40vol% oflong and short fiber to determine the effect offiber length and
the optimum fiber content. At 10vol% and 20vol% of gypsum added to the short fiber
composite, the mechanical properties of the composite are different. All samples were
tested for flexural strength and Scanning Electron Microscopic (SEM) at the fracture
surface. A very high architectural art design pose in the composites will add value and
make it more commercialize. Other that diat, lots of applications can be developed from
usingbanana fiberreinforce epoxy-gypsum composite.
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