Fabrication, Characterization, and Evaluation of Luffa cylindrica Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Composites

Abstract

Because of the increasing awareness of the environment and energy issues, as well as advances in technology, the areas of application for annual plant fiber functional materials are expanding. In this work, two chemical treatments, alkalization (2 h agitation with 5% NaOH) and furfurylation (graft furfuryl alcohol followed by oxidation with (1N) NaClO 2 solution), were conducted on Luffa cylindrica fiber surfaces. The grafting of furfuryl alcohol followed by oxidation-generated quinines showed better results than alkaline treatment with respect to enhancement of surface area and hydrophobicity as well as wax, lignin, and hemicellulose extraction. The efficiency of chemical treatments was verified by elemental analysis and FTIR spectroscopy. Differential scanning calorimetry, thermo-gravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, water absorption, and mechanical tests were performed to determine the thermal, mechanical, and morphological properties of untreated and chemically treated luffa fiber reinforced epoxy composites. Microstructures of the composites were examined to determine the mechanisms for the fiber-matrix interaction, which affects the thermal stability, water absorption, and mechanical behavior of the composites. The data from the water absorption process of composites at various temperatures were analyzed using a diffusion model based on Fick's law.

Review on hygroscopic aging of cellulose fibres and their biocomposites

“…It was further observed that treatment with methacrylamide efficiently decreased the water uptake of the composites. Investigations by Saw et al (2013), showed that the alkali modified and FA-grafted composites had a slow rate of water absorption contrary to unmodified luffa reinforced composites after 240 h of being subjected in water. The water absorption rate was found to decrease from untreated fibre, alkali modified and FA-grafted respectively.…”

“…Several investigations have been evaluated on polyester and epoxy reinforced with Luffa cylindrical fibre (Saw, Purwar, Nandy, Ghose, & Sarkhel, 2013;Seki, Sever, Erden, Sarikanat, Neser, & Ozes, 2012;Tanobe, Flores-Sahagun, Amico, Muniz, & Satyanarayana, 2014) modified with sodium hydroxide (NaOH), methacrylamide and grafted with furfuryl alcohol (FA), respectively. In the case of Seki et al (2012), polyester/luffa fibre reinforced composite was exposed to water aging under a steam of seawater containing 5% sodium chloride for 170 h at 50 • C. It was observed after aging, the elongation at break; tensile; inter-laminar and flexural strength values of the composite decreased by ∼31%, 24%, 45% and 28% respectively.…”

Combined effect of water uptake and temperature on wood polymer composites

“…These molecules are rich in hydroxyl functional groups that bind water easily by hydrogen bonding. This induces a relatively high moisture absorption that leads to swelling, distortion, biological degradation and reduction of stiffness and strength until fracture …”

Processing and Characterization of Epoxy/Luffa Composites: Investigation on Chemical Treatment of Fibers on Mechanical and Acoustical Properties

“…In this region, the composite will undergo O-H stretching and H-bonding (Ganan et al 2008). Based on Saw et al (2013), and Ramadevi et al (2012), the O-H stretching and H-bonding were due to the presence of carbohydrates (hemicellulose and cellulose).…”