THE STUDY OF MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF LAMINATED BAMBOO STRIP (LBS) FROM GIGANTOCHLOA LEVIS TYPE MIXED WITH EPOXY

Abstract

This study about laminated bamboo strip from gigantochloa levis type mixed with epoxy composite. Due to the existence of demand for products that are comfortable, healthy and environmentally friendly, this research has focused on the use of renewable sources that is bamboo. Bamboos are some of fastest growing plant in the world and also have a higher compressive strength than wood, brick or concrete and a tensile strength that rivals steel. Certain species of bamboo can grow 35 inchies within 24 hour period, at a rate of 3 cm/h. That means bamboos can growth of approximately 1 mm every 2 minutes. In this study, the bamboo strip reinforced with epoxy was processed through hand lay-out method. Bamboo strips are combined with epoxy for a total sample thickness of 3 mm. This study is performed using the impact test that is Charpy (ASTM D-6110) and Izod (ASTM D-256) to measure the mechanical properties of energy absorbtion, followed by hardness test (ASTM D-1037). The 0, 60 and 90 degree of laminated bamboo strip epoxy composite with two types of load 7 kg and 14 kg has been tested. It is found that the 0 degree specimen Charpy test give the best value is 4.79 Joule energy absorbtion for 14 kg load. While for the Izod test, the best composition is also 0 degree with 4.51 Joule energy absorbtion for 14 kg load. It is shown that when the degree of bamboo laminate configuration increases, the impact absorbtion decrease. The result also shown that, when the load is increase the impact also increases. It means that got relative significant between bamboo strip configuration and load. The impact properties relate to the loading weight. The hardness test also shown that the laminated bamboo strip for 14 kg load resulting 91 rating, that is more higher than 7 kg load that is 84. It is shown that more loads will result more hardness rating for the laminated bamboo strip.