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Fabrication of raw and chemically treated biodegradable Luffa aegyptica fruit fibre-based hybrid epoxy composite: a mechanical and morphological investigation

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Abstract

This study investigated the manufacturing and characteristics of luffa fibre reinforced epoxy composites with different stacking sequences and fibre treatments. The composites were created using a manual lay-up approach mixed with compression moulding. Three laminates were tested: L1 with untreated luffa fibres, L2 with HCl-treated fibres, and L3 with NaOH-treated fibres. Mechanical tests demonstrated that chemical treatments considerably increased tensile, flexural, interlaminar shear, and impact strengths when compared to the untreated L1 laminate. L3 with NaOH-treated fibres had the highest tensile strength of 16.47 N/mm2, flexural strength of 11.205 N/mm2, interlaminar shear strength of 4.105 N/mm2, and improved impact energy absorption. The alkali treatment was more successful than the acid treatment at improving fibre-matrix adhesion by removing hemicellulose and lignin. Scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed enhanced interfacial bonding and decreased debonding in the treated fibre laminates. Water absorption experiments revealed that the NaOH-treated L3 laminate absorbed the least amount of moisture after 28 days of immersion, at approximately 6–7%. The results show that chemically treated luffa fibre reinforced composites can be tailored for medium load structural applications by adjusting the fibre surface characteristics.

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Funding

The corresponding author “Akarsh Verma” would like to thank the University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun, India (SEED Grant program) for the academic and monetary support. Also, this research work was supported by the National Science, Research and Innovation Fund (NSRF) (Fundamental Fund 2024) and King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok (Project no. KMUTNB-FF-67-A-01).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Malnad College of Engineering, Hassan, Visvesvaraya Technological University, Belagavi, Karnataka, India

    B. N. Sharath, T. G. Yashas Gowda & P. Madhu

  2. Department of Chemistry, Malnad College of Engineering, Hassan, Visvesvaraya Technological University, Belagavi, Karnataka, India

    C. B. Pradeep Kumar

  3. Department of Mechanical Engineering, ABES Engineering College, Ghaziabad, India

    Naman Jain

  4. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun, 248007, India

    Akarsh Verma

  5. Natural Composites Research Group Lab, Department of Materials and Production Engineering, The Sirindhorn International Thai-German School of Engineering (TGGS), King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok (KMUTNB), Bangkok, 10800, Thailand

    M. R. Sanjay & Suchart Siengchin

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  1. B. N. Sharath
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All the authors equally contributed to conceptualisation, methodology, writing, reviewing, and editing.

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Correspondence to P. Madhu or Akarsh Verma.

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Sharath, B.N., Yashas Gowda, T.G., Madhu, P. et al. Fabrication of raw and chemically treated biodegradable Luffa aegyptica fruit fibre-based hybrid epoxy composite: a mechanical and morphological investigation. Biomass Conv. Bioref. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-024-05570-w

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