Effect of Heat Compression on the Tensile Strength of PALF/Sugarcane Bagasse for Disposable Plate

Abstract

This paper presents the results of heat compression effect on tensile properties in manufacturing process of disposable plate from Pineapple Leaf Fibers (PALF) based material. The plate was made of PALF and sugarcane bagasse waste as alternatif to polystyrenes to promote the green technology efford on food packaging material. Two different spesimens were produced with different composition of PALF/sugarcane bagasse, N2T8 (20% Pineapple leaf fiber and 80% sugarcane bagasse and N8T2 (80% pineapple leaf fiber and 20% sugarcane bagasse). The specimens were produced on a hot press machine at different compressing temperature, 50°C, 100°C and 150°C with constant pressure of 0.024 MPa at 10 minutes. Tensile and tearing tests were carried out on the specimens to determine the tensile and tearing properties. The results shown that the N2T8 speciment compressed at 50°C gives higher tensile and tearing strength of 22 MPa and 2 MPa ,respectively. This range of properties is expected to be good enough for the requirement of disposable plate and it has a potential as a raw material for strength and lightweight of disposable plate manufacturing.