PELATIHAN �MENEMUKAN LANGKAH TERBAIKKU� UNTUK MENINGKATKAN KETERAMPILAN PENGAMBILAN KEPUTUSAN KARIR PADA SISWA MAN

The main objective of this research was to produce strong and elastic cocofoam from a mixture of coconut fiber and latex compound. The preparation of cocofoam was conducted by a mixing method. The coconut fiber was arranged in a mold then sprayed by latex compound. The cocofoam was molded in 5, 10, and 15 cm thickness then vulcanized in an oven at temperature of 80oC. Characterizations of produced cocofoam included mass density, tensile strength, elongation at break, fixed CF5-1 � CF15-3 compression of 50 and 80%, microstructure analysis (SEM), and cocofoam samples thermal stability test (TGA-DTA) respectively. The results of the research showed that the best cocofoam vulcanization was obtained from at the temperature of 80oC. The cocofoam in 5, 10, and 15 cm thickness needed a vulcanization time of 4, 6 and 8 h, respectively. Cocofoam has a mass density of 0.6032 � 0.8867 g/cm3, larger thatof polyurethane foam of 0.3580 � 0.4075 g/cm3. Means that cocofoam was heavier than polyurethane foam. The greater the mass density of cocofoam, the greater the value of its tensile strength. The elongation at break of cocofoam was influenced largely by the orientation of random, wavy, and unevenly spreading fiber, so that the rupture of cocofoam occurred only in the area that undergo a tension concentration and forces acting across longitudinal section. The cocofoam have a fixed compression value of 50 and 80%, which are larger than the compression value of polyurethane foam rubber, suggesting that polyurethane foam rubber was more stable in sustaining a heavy weight as compared with the cocofoams. Obsolescence test showed that the latex damaged and could no longer sustain a weight after being heated at 105-115oC for 150 min. The microstructure analysis showed that the whole surface of cocofoam has different cavities and the latex compound served as an immiscible distributed adhesive. TGA curve showed that the thermal property of cocofoam was influenced by the thermal property of latex compound, that is, the preparation of cocofoam was limited by the latex compound as a matrix. The increasing ratio of coconut fiber to latex compound (CF5-1 = 10 : 25. CF5-2 = 20 : 55 and CF5-3 = 30/85) gave the width of endothermic peak at DTA curve becoming greater and sharper, due to the greater ratio of the latex compound bound the fiber