Risky Simarmata, Successfully Earned a Bachelor Degree in Agricultural Technology Through Bioplastic Composites
Successfully Earning a Bachelor Degree in Agricultural
Technology, Risky combines taro tuber starch: carrageenan with a type of
plasticizer (castor oil and stearic acid) and polyvinyl alcohol as a
reinforcing agent to produce bioplastic composites. Risky Simarmata, who is
often called Risky, has just won his bachelor's degree, namely Bachelor of
Agricultural Technology (S.TP.) in the Agroindustrial Technology Study Program,
Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Udayana University in July 2023.
Risky's research was conducted under the guidance of Dr.
Ir. Amna Hartiati, M.P. and Prof. Ir. Nyoman Semadi Antara, M.P. Ph. D. with
the title “The Effect of Types of Plasticizers and Concentration of Polyvinyl
Alcohol Strengthening on the Characteristics of Taro Starch Bioplastic
Composites (Colocasia esculenta L) and Carrageenan. The research carried out
was the manufacture of bioplastic composites by knowing the effect of the type
of plasticizer (2 types of plasticizers namely castor oil and stearic acid) and
determining the concentration of polyvinyl alcohol reinforcement to produce the
best bioplastic composites. The type of plasticizer and the concentration of
reinforcing agent in bioplastic composites are important factors in the process
of making bioplastics to obtain the best soft, ductile and strong mechanical
properties of bioplastics.
Risky reported that the best treatment obtained was a
bioplastic composite using a stearic acid plasticizer with a concentration of
0.5% and a strengthening concentration of 15% polyvinyl alcohol with a tensile
strength value of 6.16 ± 0.01 MPa; elongation at break, namely 4.97 ± 1.05% ;
elasticity 126.76 ± 27.04 MPa ; Thick development was 24.06 ± 9.34% and the
biodegradation time was on the 6th day. He also suggested "further
research is needed to develop new formulations with hydrophobic types of
plasticizers and other reinforcement materials so that they meet Indonesian
National Standards and International Standards," he said.
UDAYANA UNIVERSITY