Low density composite board from sugarcane residue and polymer of high density polyethylene

Bagasse is one of biomass wastes often found in the sugar industry. In large quantities, such wastes are a problem for environmental sustainability because it is not handled properly. Likewise, plastic wastes are an environmental problem with difficulty coping. Both of these wastes can be integrated into a product with economic value by processing it into a composite board. The research aims to produce low-density composite boards and to study the process variables that influence its manufacturing process, namely the compressing temperature and Maleic Anhydride (MAH) as a coupling agent. HDPE plastic waste will be tested as an adhesive for the manufacture of composite boards. The composite board is made by preparing the raw material with the drying of the sugarcane residue and the dissolving of the plastic waste using xylene solvent. Furthermore, the mixing process is carried out with various coupling agents by 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10%, as well as the hot press temperatures by 160, 180, and 200°C. The results showed that the optimum value of the hot press temperature of the composite board was 160°C with 10% coupling agent concentration. The value of the thickness expansion was in the range of 0.0021–0.0153%, the water absorption was 0.067–0.640%, and the average density was 449.80 kg/m³. Its MOE was 92.188–459.901 Mpa, the MOR was in the range of 1.92–3.07 Mpa, and the DSC analyses were 5.3 and 23.52 KJ/g at 2% and 10% MAH concentrations, respectively. The physical and mechanical tests of the composite board obtained have fulfilled the standard of SNI 03-2105-1996 with the exception for MOR.