Testing the Effect of Using Compositions on Latex and Coconut Fiber in Making Cocosheet

Abstract

The use of composition in coconut fiber and latex as binders is an influential factor in the process of making coconut fiber sheets or cocosheets. Therefore, this study was conducted to improve the quality of coconut husk sheets produced by this machine. Specifically, this study focuses on determining the appropriate and optimal composition or ratio of coconut husk and latex in the production of coconut husk sheets using three different composition ratios to identify the optimal results of the sheets produced. In this study, literature review, observation/monitoring, and experimentation methods were used to analyze the data that will be used in the process of producing coconut husk sheets using three composition ratios. The coconut husk sheets produced from the first composition test used a ratio of 5% coconut husk and 95% latex, where the coconut husk composition weighed 138 g and the liquid latex amounted to 144 ml, which then underwent a flattening process using a roll machine with a 5 mm gap and a roll rotation speed of 48 r/min, resulting in coconut husk sheets with a uniform thickness of 5 mm, but the density produced exhibited gaps between the coconut husk fibers. In the second composition test using a ratio of 10% coconut husk and 90% latex, where the coconut husk composition weighed 275 g and the liquid latex weighed 272 ml, which then underwent a flattening process using a roll machine with a 5 mm gap and a roll speed of 48 r/min, resulting in a flat coconut husk sheet with a thickness of 5 mm and density that did not exhibit gaps between the coconut husk fibers. In the third composition test using a ratio of 15% coconut husk and 85% latex, where the amount of coconut husk composition was 413 g and the amount of liquid latex was 386 ml, which then underwent a flattening process using a roll machine with a 5 mm gap and a roll speed of 48 r/min, producing a flat coconut husk sheet with a thickness of 10 mm and a density that did not experience gaps between the coconut husks.