The Effect of Fiber Mass Fraction on the Green Composite of Potato Starch/Bamboo Fiber on Fire Resistance.

Abstract

This study examines the effect of varying bamboo fiber mass fractions on the fire resistance of green composites made from potato starch. Green composites are considered eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic materials, particularly for automotive and interior building applications. The use of natural materials like bamboo fiber and potato starch offers advantages such as biodegradability and abundant availability in Indonesia. Three fiber mass fractions were tested in this study: 5%, 7.5%, and 10%. The specimens were produced using the hand lay-up method, and fire resistance testing was conducted following the ASTM D 635-03 standard. Key parameters evaluated included rate of burning , weight loss, and the rate of weight loss. The results revealed that increasing the bamboo fiber content significantly reduced the burning rate from 23.5 mm/min (at 5%) to 10.3 mm/min (at 10%). Similarly, the weight loss rate decreased from 1.28 g/min to 0.62 g/min with the increase in fiber content. This improvement is attributed to the presence of lignin and silica in bamboo fibers, which are heat-resistant and form a protective char layer when exposed to fire. Therefore, increasing the bamboo fiber content in the potato starch matrix enhances the fire-resistant characteristics of the composite. These findings suggest that potato starch–bamboo fiber green composites hold great promise as environmentally friendly structural materials with reliable fire resistance. This research is expected to contribute to the advancement of sustainable composite materials and reduce dependence on non-eco-friendly synthetic alternatives.