Optimasi Produk Komposit Polimer Vacuum Assisted Resin Infusion (VARI) Menggunakan Metode Taguchi (Gunawan Refiadi dkk) 69 OPTIMASI PRODUK KOMPOSIT POLIMER VACUUM ASSISTED RESIN INFUSION (VARI) MENGGUNAKAN METODE TAGUCHI THE PRODUCT OPTIMISATION OF COMPOSITE MADE FROM VACUUM ASSISTED RESIN INFUSION (VARI)POLYMER USING TAGUCHI METHOD Gunawan Refiadi 1 , Hermawan Judawisastra 2 ’ Rochim Suratman 2 1 Program Magister Teknik Mesin - Institut Teknologi Bandung 2 Program Studi Teknik Mesin - Institut Teknologi Bandung Email: g4refiadi@gmail.com Diterima: 18 Oktober 2013 Direvisi: 20 November 2013 Disetujui: 19 Desember 2013 ABSTRAK Keunggulan VARI dibanding hand lay-up tingginya fraksi volume serat, fraksi volume void yang rendah dan kondisi manufaktur FRP yang ramah lingkungan. Kualitas produk VARI ditentukan oleh banyak parameter sehingga optimasinya memerlukan banyak trial dan sampel. Penelitian ini memakai metoda Taguchi dengan hanya melakukan delapan run kombinasi serat penguat plain weave dan matrix polyester resin. Parameter infusi yang dioptimasi meliputi bentuk penampang inlet, aplikasi tekanan, gravitasi, dan media distribusi, kandungan katalis dan solvent. Prosedur penelitian dilakukan menggunakan standar ASTM D-2854, software image pro analysis, serta pengukuran variasi tebal dan cacat permukaan sampel. Hasil optimasi Taguchi telah mencapai kriteria the greater- the better dan the lower-the better dalam bentuk fisik masing-masing berupa peningkatan fraksi volume serat dan penurunan fraksi volume void, cacat permukaan, variasi tebal, serta racetracking. Kombinasi parameter optimum yang dicapai adalah tekanan linier, penggunaan distribusi media chop strand mat, aplikasi penampang spiral, beda tinggi 15 cm antara permukaan cetakan dan permukaan resin, pemakaian 0,5% berat methyl ethyl ketone peroxide, dan 5% berat solven aseton. Kata kunci: VARI, Optimasi, Taguchi, the greater-the better, the lower-the better ABSTRACT VARI has been known for superior qualities than hand lay-up not only in higher fiber and lower void volume fractions but also environment friendly manufacturing condition of the FRP composites. Optimization of the VARI’s product is determined by many parameters and consequently needs a lot of samples. This research used Taguchi method in reducing the number of samples through only eight runs of plain weave reinforcement and polyester resin matrix. Infusion parameters optimized are inlet area forms, application of pressures, gravitation, and distribution media, the catalyst and solvent contents. Procedures were conducted using ASTM D-2854 standard, image pro analysis software, thickness variation and surface defect measurements. It was found that not only the greater-the-better but also the lower-the-better conditions. Both were found in term of increasing of fiber volume fraction and decreasing of void volume fraction, surface defect, thickness variation, and racetracking. The optimum parameters are the applications of linear pressure, chop strand mat, spiral duct, 15 cm height difference between the resin and the mold surfaces, 0.5% of MEKP catalyst, and 5% of acetone solvent. Keywords: VARI, Optimization, Taguchi, the greater-the better, the lower-the better