Analysis of the Performance of Natural Composite Materials Reinforced with Sago Sheath Fibers as an Alternative Material in Overcoming the Effect of Urban Heat Islands on Buildings

Abstract

Local knowledge of a region is an asset that encourages the identification of a region. Hence, the specificity, uniqueness, and character that animates a particular city can distinguish it significantly from other cities. Sago tree fronds are widely applied to buildings as an alternative material for making tiles for roofs and other parts of buildings. The sago palm has long been used for making roofs and walls, especially in traditional houses. Few previous studies have used sago fronds as a manufacturing material for traditional houses. However, based on data in the field, many traditional houses still use sago fronds as a roof and wall framing material. This is also an effort to overcome the urban heat island phenomenon (UHI) in buildings. The UHI phenomenon is a phenomenon of urban development that highly affects environmental quality conditions and causes microclimate changes where air temperature conditions in urban areas are higher than the surrounding air temperatures. Sago midrib fiber is a natural composite material used as a reinforcing material for natural composite materials due to its thermal and mechanical properties. Composite materials using the hand lay-up technique—with characterization methods including the impact test and the DSC test, variations in NaOH levels, and variations in the resin–catalyst matrix—were used in this study. The results obtained were then compared with those in the literature. The results showed that 6% NaOH obtained the most significant impact value of 2.1 J, and the resin–catalyst matrix variation of 97.5%:2.5% obtained the most significant impact value, which was 2.4 J. Meanwhile, the DSC test results showed that the material’s best value for retaining heat was at 4% NaOH content variation and a resin–catalyst matrix variation of 97.5%:2.5%.