A team of Politeknik Negeri Semarang (Polines) lecturers succeeded in making a microstrip antenna using a dielectric substrate made from cotton and carbon fiber waste. This innovation is an alternative to use fiberglass – epoxy or FR4 which has been widely used in microstip antennas.
The microstrip antenna itself is a type of antenna made from a thin metal sheet placed on an insulating substrate. The use of microstrip antennas is very important in the world of telecommunications. This type of antenna is usually used on base transceiver station (BTS) or transmitting station.
Currently, most countries use FR4 substrate as microstrip antenna material. Apart from its cheap price, FR4 also has the characteristics of low water absorption and good insulation properties. The disadvantage of FR4 is that it does not have good tensile strength and can only withstand temperatures of 130° C.
For this reason, the Polines lecturer team led by Budi Basuki Subagio S. innovated by creating a microstrip technology antenna product using a dielectric substrate made from cotton-carbon fiber waste composite. Apart from being an alternative material to replace FR-4 substrate, this microstrip antenna made from carbon cotton fiber waste is also reliable, low cost, and also environmentally friendly.
Regarding this innovation, Budi Basuki said that in his research, the isolator substrate will be made from carbon cotton fiber waste, which is a natural fiber material made from cotton fiber. The fiber will then be reinforced with carbon fiber.
"This Microstrip Antenna is an alternative that will be used by our partners, namely PT Telkom Access as fiber optic backup in remote areas. "One of them is in Gir Pasang, Tegalmulyo Village, which is located on the slopes of Mount Merapi," said Budi Basuki.
For your information, this innovation carried out by Budi and his team is one of the good practices of the 2023 Vocational Matching Fund program involving PT Telkom Access as an industrial partner.
"Initially we identified the need and opportunity to use carbon cotton fiber waste material as an alternative material to replace FR4. We try to conduct a review of the surrounding environment and the needs that exist in society, especially those related to fiber optic backup for internet networks," explained Budi.
Photos during testing at GirPasang on the slopes of Mount Merapi and photos of the production process
After the needs and opportunities have been identified, the next stage is for Budi and the team to carry out research and development to develop a subtract microstrip antenna for carbon cotton waste according to partner needs and field conditions.
"We are trying to design the system and hardware and software needed to make a microstrip antenna on carbon cotton fiber waste substrate," continued Budi Basuki.
Budi and his team's innovative microstrip technology antenna has also tested the iSense smart device in appropriate environments, such as stadiums, crowds, shopping centers and so on. As a result, this antenna shows its reliability. Another advantage is that the antenna is estimated to have a TKDN of more than 40 percent.
"We hope that the carbon cotton fiber waste substrate microstrip antenna can later become a commercial product and can be marketed to private and government agencies engaged in the telecommunications sector," said Budi.
It is also hoped that the continued development of this product will open up new market opportunities and increase Indonesia's capabilities in the field of technology. (Polines/Nan/Cecep)
Source: vokasi.kemdikbud.go.id