The Impact of Pine Resin-Epoxy Ratios on Fire Resistance and Acoustic Performance of Banana Fiber Composites

Authors

Cokorda Istri Putri Kusuma Kencanawati, Environmental Engineering Department, Udayana University, Jl. Kampus Bukit Jimbaran, Badung, 80361, IndonesiaFollow
Dewa Ngakan Ketut Putra Negara, Mechanical Engineering Department, Udayana University, Jl. Kampus Bukit Jimbaran, Badung, 80361, IndonesiaFollow
I Gede Andy Andika Parahita, Environmental Engineering Department, Udayana University, Jl. Kampus Bukit Jimbaran, Badung, 80361, IndonesiaFollow

Abstract

Because of their low environmental impact and biodegradability, composite materials derived from natural fibers and resins have drawn interest as sustainable substitutes for synthetic materials in thermal and acoustic applications. Two promising natural components are banana stem fiber and pine resin, but they need to be modified due to their mechanical limitations and flammability. Epoxy resin is commonly used to enhance structural performance; however, its effects on acoustic and fire resistance properties require further investigation. This study examined how different epoxy resin contents affected the sound absorption and fire resistance of composites made from banana stem fiber and pine resin. Four formulations were created with 10% banana stem fiber and epoxy resin contents of 0%, 3%, 6%, and 9%. The experimental results demonstrated that the burning rate increased significantly with increasing epoxy resin content, from 40.08 mm/min in the epoxy-free sample to 56.824 mm/min in the 9% epoxy sample, indicating decreased fire resistance. Measurements of sound absorption showed that all samples performed better as the frequency increased, reaching a peak at about 3500 Hz. The specimen without epoxy resin showed the highest absorption, and performance marginally declined as epoxy content rose. According to these results, epoxy resin may enhance some mechanical qualities but degrade fire resistance and slightly lower acoustic performance. The findings emphasize how crucial it is to optimize material composition according to the intended application, especially when sound absorption and fire safety are important factors.

Recommended Citation

Kencanawati, Cokorda Istri Putri Kusuma; Negara, Dewa Ngakan Ketut Putra; and Parahita, I Gede Andy Andika (2025) "The Impact of Pine Resin-Epoxy Ratios on Fire Resistance and Acoustic Performance of Banana Fiber Composites," Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST): Vol. 9: No. 2, Article 5.
Available at: https://citeus.um.ac.id/jmest/vol9/iss2/5