Indonesia has abundant natural resources, especially natural fibres, one of which
is banana. Banana fibre is one of the alternative materials that can be used as
reinforcement for making composites. The use of banana frond fibre attracted
researchers to determine the mechanical properties of banana fibre including
tensile test and bending test. The study used 0%, 4%, 8%, and 12% banana frond
fibre variables. The purpose of the study was to determine the tensile and bending
strength values of banana leaf fibre composites on the mechanical strength of
banana leaf fibre composites. The matrix is polyester resin and catalyst with
banana leaf fibre as reinforcement. The composites were made using ASTM D638-
01 standard for tensile test with mould size 165 mm x 19 mm x 3mm and ASTM
D790-92 for bending test with mould size 200 mm x 10 mm x 10 mm. The composite
moulds were made of silicon rubber. Testing was carried out at the Mechanical and
Industrial Engineering Laboratory of Gadjah Mada University. The tensile and
bending test results were analysed and the highest average value of tensile strength
was obtained by 8% fibre volume fraction with a value of 21.60 MPa. The highest
average elongation value was obtained by the composite volume fraction of 12%:
88% with a value of 3.28%, the highest average value of modulus of elasticity was
obtained by the composite volume fraction of 4%: 96% with a value of 821.45 MPa.
In the bending test, the highest average value of the 12% composite volume
fraction: 88% with a value of 57.71 MPa. After processing the data, it is concluded
that banana leaf fibre increases the strength of polyester composites and supports
the development of environmentally friendly materials and the use of agricultural
waste.