17 - Acoustic and mechanical properties of luffa fiber-reinforced biocomposites

Abstract

This chapter presents an overview of the acoustic and mechanical behaviors of luffa fiber-reinforced biocomposites. A growing number of studies are examining the composites of biodegradable fibers such as flax, hemp, kenaf, and luffa because of the adverse effects of their chemical materials on nature. Their low cost and the superior acoustic and acceptable mechanical properties of biocomposites make them attractive for practical applications such as sound and vibration isolation. However, the acoustic and mechanical characteristics of biocomposites and their dynamic behaviors should be fully determined before they are considered for practical applications. In this chapter, acoustic properties such as sound absorption and transmission loss and mechanical properties such as the damping and elasticity of luffa fiber-reinforced composites are presented. Variations in acoustic and mechanical properties owing to different samples and manufacturing processes are explored.