Composite Modification of Water Hyacinth Fiber in the Production of Decorative Particle Boards by Spray-Coating Utilizing a Silane Coupling Agent

Water hyacinth is a waste in waters that can damage the balance of aquatic ecosystems because of its rapid growth, which can reach 3% in a day. One utilization of water hyacinth waste is to be used as filler material for decorative particleboard. Decorative particleboard according to SNI 03-2105-2006 is a composite material that can be used as an alternative to decorative wood with its superior physical and mechanical properties. This study aims to look at the physical and mechanical characteristics of particleboard with surface coating treatment using silane coupling agent solution. Water hyacinth powder was alkalized using NaOH and distilled water in a ratio of 1:5 for 1 hour. Water hyacinth powder was then mixed with epoxy resin adhesive in a ratio of 40:60 in weight percent. The particle board compaction process uses hydrolic hot press compaction with a pressure of 2 bar at 50oC for 10 minutes. The compressed particleboard was surface treated using a silane coupling agent solution (KH550). The particleboard was tested for physical properties of density, moisture content, water absorption, and thickness development using SNI 03-2105-2006. The particleboard was tested for flexibility using ASTM D790-03. The particle board was tested for tensile strength using ASTM D638-14. The surface morphology of the particleboard was scanned using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results showed that silane coupling agent treatment on the surface greatly improved the bond between matrix and filler. The results of particleboard on density, water content percentage test, water absorption and thickness development have fulfilled SNI 03-2105-2006 particleboard. The results of flexural testing of untreated particleboard meet SNI 03- 2105-2006, namely decorative particleboard type 8. Particle board coated with SCA (KH550) meets SNI 03-2105-2006 structural particle board type 10. The tensile strength test results meet SNI 03-2105-2006 particle board on all types.