| dc.description.abstract | The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal volume fraction in obtaining the highest tensile
strength and impact resistance. In this study, the composite material consisted of an Epoxy AB777 resin
as a matrix and 300 mat fiberglass as a reinforcement, with variations in vacuum pressure (0.2 and
0.5 bar) as well as fiberglass volume fraction (Vf = 30%, 35%, 40%, 45 %, 50%) to tensile strength
and impact resistance. Application of Vacuum Assisted Resin Infusion (VARI) method is by drain the
resin into the reinforcement which is placed in airtight mold by using vacuum pump. From the test
result, the highest tensile strength is owned by composite with Vf 50% and 0.5 bar pressure is 138,18
MPa and the lowest is owned by Vf 30% with pressure 0,2 bar is 96,60 MPa. While the highest impact
resistance is owned by a composite with Vf 45% with a 0.5 bar pressure is 0.191 J / mm2
and the lowest
one is owned by Vf 30% with a 0.2 bar pressure is 0.098 J / mm2
. It can be concluded that, (1) Greater
the vacuum pressure used, greater the mechanical strength of the composite. (2) Greater the fiber
volume fraction, will increase the tensile strength of fiberglass / epoxy composites. However, 45% fiber
volume fraction is the optimum volume fraction for composite impact resistance. | en_US |
