The Effect of Fiber Mass Fraction on the Green Composite of Pineapple Leaf Fiber (Ananas comosus) and Potato Starch Matrix on Hardness and Biodegradation.

Abstract

The increasing use of synthetic materials has caused serious environmental problems, such as pollution and the depletion of natural resources. Therefore, the development of environmentally friendly materials, such as green composites, has become increasingly important. This study aims to investigate the effect of fiber mass fraction on the hardness and biodegradability of green composites made from pineapple leaf fiber (Ananas comosus) and potato starch (Solanum tuberosum) as the matrix. Pineapple leaf fiber was chosen due to its good mechanical properties and abundant availability, while potato starch was used as a natural matrix with strong adhesive qualities and biodegradability. The study used fiber mass fractions of 5%, 7.5%, and 10% to observe changes in the hardness and biodegradability of the resulting composites. Controlled variables in this research included a fiber length of 1 cm, magnetic stirrer speed of 200 rpm, processing temperature of 170 °C, and mixing time of 10 minutes. These controls were implemented to ensure consistency in the manufacturing process so that the influence of fiber mass fraction on material properties could be observed more accurately. The test results showed that increasing the fiber mass fraction significantly improved the hardness of the green composites. Additionally, biodegradability was also influenced by fiber composition, where composites with lower fiber mass fractions tended to be less degradable.