Abstract—Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) composites are widely used in major manufacturing industries, including the robotics industry. To provide robot technology protection against high temperatures, composites with good thermal resistance are needed. The thermal resistance is completed by adding a refractory material in the form of silica from Rice Husk Ash (RHA). This research was conducted to determine the effect of adding silica on the thermal resistance of CFRP composites using the vacuum bag method. The CFRP itself is made of composite samples using polyester resin, woven carbon fabric, and silica extract with composition variations: 0 g (without silica), 5 g, 15 g, 25 g, and 35 g. CFRP is tested using Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). Based on the research results, it can be concluded that the addition of 35 g of silica from rice husk ash can increase environmental temperature resistance up to 414.2 °C. The increased environmental temperature resistance of this composite material will be very suitable for use in robotics components that are in direct contact with heat temperature.

Keywords—Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) composites, Silica, rice husk ash, thermal resistance

Cite: Himawan Hadi Sutrisno, Farhah Al Faizah, Yunita Sari, Layla Najwa Husaini, and Anissa Intan Audrya, "Enhanced Thermal Resistance of CFRP in Robotic Body Covering," International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics Research, Vol. 13, No. 5, pp. 502-508, 2024.

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