<![CDATA[The development of natural fiber-based composite materials is an alternative approach for producing lightweight and economical materials while supporting the utilization of agricultural waste. This study aims to analyze the effect of sugar palm fiber (Arenga pinnata) volume fraction and alkaline treatment on the mechanical properties and burning resistance of epoxy matrix composites. The sugar palm fibers were treated using 5% NaOH solution for 2 hours and incorporated into the composite at volume fractions of 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%. The composites were fabricated using the hand lay-up method. Mechanical characterization included tensile testing according to ASTM D638 and flexural testing according to ASTM D790, while burning resistance was evaluated according to ASTM D635. The results showed that increasing the fiber fraction tended to improve the tensile strength. The highest tensile strength was obtained at a 50% fiber fraction without treatment, reaching 52 MPa. Meanwhile, the highest Modulus of Rupture (MoR) was obtained at a 50% fiber fraction with alkaline treatment, reaching 55.66 MPa. In the burning test, the lowest burning rate was obtained at a 50% fiber fraction, with values of 17.55 mm/min for untreated specimens and 17.78 mm/min for treated specimens. The results indicate that a 50% fiber fraction provides the best overall mechanical performance, while the effect of alkaline treatment on tensile strength and burning resistance does not show a consistent trend across all fiber fractions.]]>
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