Impact of fibre weight on the mechanical properties of chopped luffa cylindrica fibre reinforced polymer composites

Abstract

ABSTRACT Due to its superior properties such as light weight, biodegradable, low density, readily accessible, low cost, high specific strength etc., natural fibre-reinforced polymer composites have been a wide field of research over the last few years. The effect of the fibre content on the mechanical property and water absorption behaviour of luffa cylindrica fibre-reinforced epoxy composite is studied in this research paper. The surface morphology of tensile fracture specimens is also analysed using FESEM analysis. Four different types of composites were prepared by using hand layup technique with varying fibre content such as 4%, 8%, 12% and 16 wt%. The mechanical behaviours of composites have been analysed, such as tensile strength, flexural strength, impact strength and water absorption properties, respectively. The experimental result shows that the water absorption increases with increase in fibre weight percentage. Similarly mechanical properties increase up to 12% luffa fibre content in a composite. Maximum tensile, flexural and impact strength obtained 19 MPa, 50.2 MPa and 2.3 joule, respectively, in 12 wt% luffa fibre composites. But maximum water absorption was obtained as 10.2% in 16 wt% of luffa fibre composites.