REKAYASA KOMPOSIT KARBON POLIMER KONDUKTIF ELEKTRIK SEBAGAI INTI KABEL LISTRIK FLEKSIBEL

This study aims to find alternative materials for electrical cable cores that are more environmentally friendly and cheaper by using environmentally friendly organic waste materials. The alternative material in this research is an electrically conductive polymer carbon composite consisting of carbon material from organic waste rice husks and thermoplastic polymer material LLDPE (Linear Low-Density Polyethylene). So far, the core of the power cable is produced from copper, which is not environmentally friendly. Preliminary research has revealed that carbon from organic waste resulting from the pyrolysis carbonization process at a temperature of 950°C at a temperature rate of 2°C/min can conduct electricity. The carbon was finely ground and sieved to obtain a mesh size of 150, mixed with polymers with variations in the composition ratio of carbon : LLDPE of 50:50, 60:40, 70:30 percent weight and hot compacted at various temperatures of 120°C, 135°C and 150 °C. The samples were made using moulds and hot press compaction equipment at the Jakarta State Polytechnic laboratory. The characterization of the sample was carried out by testing in three laboratories. Electrical properties test using four point-probe method (ASTM D4496), electrical conductivity measurement (ASTM D257), and SEM microstructure test were carried out at the Physics Laboratory of BRIN Serpong. The density test using the Archimedes method (ASTM D792) and the porosity test (ASTM C20-00(2015)) were carried out at the Mechanical Engineering laboratory of the Jakarta State Polytechnic. Testing of mechanical properties/tensile test (ASTM D638) was carried out at the BRIN Cibinong Biomaterials laboratory. Samples of mono filament/electric cable core were made using a mini extruder machine. Electrical cable core samples were tested using the two point-probe methods in the Mechanical Engineering Laboratory of the State Polytechnic. The test results show that variations in the composition and temperature of hot press compaction affect the mechanical properties, physical properties of density porosity, morphology and electrical conductivity. The highest tensile strength value was produced by a composite with a composition ratio of 70 percent Carbon : 30 percent LLDPE at a compacting temperature of 150°C, namely 10.00 [N/mm2]. The lowest tensile strength value was produced by a composite with a composition ratio of 50 percent Carbon : 50 percent LLDPE at a compaction temperature of 135°C, namely 7.19 [N/mm2]. The higher the carbon content, the higher the tensile strength produced. The highest porosity value was produced by the composite with a composition ratio of 70 percent Carbon : 30 percent LLDPE at a compacting temperature of 135°C, namely 1.85 percent. The lowest porosity value was produced by the composite with a composition ratio of 60 percent Carbon : 40 percent LLDPE at a compaction temperature of 120°C, namely 1.202 percent. The higher the carbon content, the higher the porosity produced. The higher the carbon content and the higher compaction temperature will produce a uniform structure as shown by the composite with a composition ratio of 70 percent Carbon : 30 percent LLDPE at a compaction temperature of 150°C. The highest electrical conductivity value was produced by the composite with a composition ratio of 70 percent Carbon : 30 percent LLDPE at a compacting temperature of 150°C, which was 0.0142 [S/cm]. The lowest electrical conductivity value was produced by composites with a composition ratio of 50 percent Carbon : 50 percent LLDPE at a compaction temperature of 150°C, namely 0.0007 [S/cm]. The higher the carbon content, the higher the electrical conductivity produced.