Prof. Dr. Ir. Tresna Priyana Soemardi, M.Si., S.E., Professor of the Department of Mechanical Engineering (DTM), Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia (FTUI), is ready to leave for France as a Visiting Researcher through the Séjour Scientifique de Haut Niveau (SSHN) scholarship program. SSHN is a collaboration between the French Embassy and Institut Français Indonesia, which provides travel support for Indonesian researchers who wish to undertake or continue high-level scientific cooperation projects between the two countries.
As an awardee, Prof. Tresna will undergo the SSHN program at Paris Nanterre University (Université Paris Nanterre) from November to December 2023. 4 activities will be the main agenda, namely Future Advance Research Discussion, Joint Authored Paper, Book Publishing, and Lecturing for S3 students. The implementation of activities will collaborate with academics and industry in France, especially in the field of aeronautics.
“The research that I will carry out while in France will focus on green material engineering, especially on natural composites for various applications in the automotive, aeronautical, and marine industries. That is how to develop natural composites using natural fibres and natural polymers that are bio-degradable,” said Prof. Tresna.
Furthermore, he explained that in general, composites consist of two components, namely fibre and matrix. Generally, the matrix uses epoxy and the fibre uses carbon, fibreglass, or other synthetic materials that are difficult to decompose. Through his research, Prof. Tresna developed a natural composite where the matrix utilizes corn, cassava, potatoes, and other natural materials such as PolyLatctic Acid (PLA), while the fibre is made from hemp or pineapple.
He emphasized that this research has great potential in Indonesia, which has a suitable climate for the growth of these plants. Moreover, currently, the automotive industry is shifting to the use of composite materials, one example is the Boeing 777 aircraft which has applied up to 70% composite materials to its aircraft body. In the future, composite materials will also begin to be applied in the manufacture of electric car bodies.
Prof. Tresna also stated his latest research that is being developed with his students, “Recently, I sent my doctoral students to France for 6 months to introduce a raw material from natural composites in the form of prepreg. Prepreg is a basic material in the form of sheets that can be applied by the aircraft industry or the car industry in making bodies or interiors. This research was well received in France as it is a relatively new concept for them.”
The prepreg that Prof. Tresna is developing is called Ramie Fiber Reinforce (RFR)-PLA. Weak PLA is reinforced with RFR so that it can reach a strength of 600-700 MPa, which is close to the strength of iron and steel. In addition to the automotive industry, this material can also be applied to home appliances such as refrigerators and deck floors.
“Currently, RFR-PLA prepreg has entered the third generation and is in the process of being patented in Indonesia. With the continued development of this material, hopefully, in the future it will become a concrete form of cooperation regarding natural composites and can become a project between the two countries,” said Prof. Tresna.
“Prof. Tresna’s experience and knowledge will contribute significantly to the academic cooperation between Universitas Indonesia and our international partners in France. We are confident that the visit and research conducted by Prof. Tresna will bring great benefits in the development of science and technology, and strengthen the global collaboration network,” said Prof. Dr. Heri Hermansyah, S.T., M.Eng., IPU, Dean of FTUI.
Prof. Heri also hopes that Prof. Tresna will return with deeper insights, new knowledge, and valuable experiences that can be shared with students and fellow lecturers at Universitas Indonesia. “Hopefully his academic journey in France will be successful and beneficial for the development of science in the field of Mechanical Engineering,” said Prof. Heri.
The cooperation between France and Universitas Indonesia has been established since 20 years ago. Although now no longer collaborating in international class programs, Prof. Tresno revealed that French cooperation with the Mechanical Design & Biomedical Laboratory FTUI remains closely intertwined by consistently sending FTUI researchers to France every year. This is evidence of the ongoing commitment to the development of science and technology between the two countries.
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Bureau of Public Communication
Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia