Physico-Mechanical Properties of Luffa aegyptiaca Fiber Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composite
Affiliation(s)
1 Department of Polymer and Textile Technology, Yaba College of Technology, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria. 2 Department of Polymer and Textile Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria.
1 Department of Polymer and Textile Technology, Yaba College of Technology, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria. 2 Department of Polymer and Textile Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria.
ABSTRACT
This paper presents the study of moisture content, hardness, bulk density, apparent porosity, tensile and flexural characteristics of composite properties of Luffa aegyptiaca fiber. Luffa aegyptiaca reinforced epoxy composites have been developed by hand lay-up method with Luffa fiber untreated and treated conditions for 12 Hrs and 24 Hrs in different filler loading as in 2:1 ratio (5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25%). The effects of filler loading on the moisture content, hardness, bulk density, apparent porosity, tensile and flexural properties were studied. In general, the treated Luffa fibre composite for 24 Hrs showed better improvement properties via addition of modified Luffa fibre as reinforcement. However, tensile and flexural properties improved continuously with increasing filler loading up to 20% but decreasing at 25% due to weak interfacial bonding for both untreated and treated composite. The favourable results were obtained at 20% for treated composite at 24 Hrs especially at tensile and flexural characteristics and are suitable for mechanical applications.
This paper presents the study of moisture content, hardness, bulk density, apparent porosity, tensile and flexural characteristics of composite properties of Luffa aegyptiaca fiber. Luffa aegyptiaca reinforced epoxy composites have been developed by hand lay-up method with Luffa fiber untreated and treated conditions for 12 Hrs and 24 Hrs in different filler loading as in 2:1 ratio (5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25%). The effects of filler loading on the moisture content, hardness, bulk density, apparent porosity, tensile and flexural properties were studied. In general, the treated Luffa fibre composite for 24 Hrs showed better improvement properties via addition of modified Luffa fibre as reinforcement. However, tensile and flexural properties improved continuously with increasing filler loading up to 20% but decreasing at 25% due to weak interfacial bonding for both untreated and treated composite. The favourable results were obtained at 20% for treated composite at 24 Hrs especially at tensile and flexural characteristics and are suitable for mechanical applications.
Cite this paper
Ichetaonye, S. , Madufor, I. , Yibowei, M. and Ichetaonye, D. (2015) Physico-Mechanical Properties of Luffa aegyptiaca Fiber Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composite. Open Journal of Composite Materials, 5, 110-117. doi: 10.4236/ojcm.2015.54014.
Ichetaonye, S. , Madufor, I. , Yibowei, M. and Ichetaonye, D. (2015) Physico-Mechanical Properties of Luffa aegyptiaca Fiber Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composite. Open Journal of Composite Materials, 5, 110-117. doi: 10.4236/ojcm.2015.54014.
References
[1] Campbell, F.C. (2010) Introduction to Composite Material. Structural Composite Materials, 1, 1-29. [2] Jan, G. (1990) Composite Material Research Laboratory. Advanced Material Science, 1, 61-82. [3] Medraj, M. (2001) Composite Material. MECH. 321 Lecture, Mechanical Engineering Department, Concordia University, Montreal, 1-19. [4] Chawla, K.K. (1998) Composite Materials: Science and Engineering. Springer-Verlag, New York, 380-404.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-2966-5 [5] David, R. (2000) Introduction to Composite Materials. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, 4, 2, 1-7. [6] Ebert, L.J. and Wright, P.K. (1999) Mechanical Aspects of the Interface. In: Metcalfe, A.G., Ed., Interfaces in Polymer Matrix Composites, Academic Press, New York, 285. [7] Gordon, J.E. (2012) The New Science of strong Materials. Penguin Books Limited. [8] Clyne, T.W. and Withers, P.J. (1993) An Introduction to Composites. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 43-64.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511623080 [9] Jyoti, P.D. and Mishra, S.C. (2012) Processing and Properties of Natural Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composite. Journal of Materials, 10, Article ID: 297213. [10] Myrtha, K., Holia, O. and Anung, S. (2007) Physical and Mechanical Properties of Natural Fibers Filled Polypropylene Composites and Its Recycle. Journal of Biological Sciences, 7, 393-396. [11] Mallick, P.K. (2007) Fiber Reinforced Composites. CRC Press, London and New York, 1-15.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1201/9781420005981 [12] Dieter, H.M. (2004) Improving the Impact Strength of Natural Fiber Reinforced Composites by Specifically Designed Materials and Process Parameters. Irish Naturalist Journal, 24, 31 -38. [13] Panneerdhass, P., Gnanavelbabu, A. and Rajkumar, K. (2014) Mechanical Properties of Luffa Fiber and Ground Nut Reinforced Epoxy Polymer Hybred Composites. Procedia Engineering, 97, 2042-2051. [14] Imoisili, P.E., Ibegbulam, C.M. and Adejugbe, T.I. (2012) Effect of Concentration of Coconut Shell Ash on the Tensile Properties of Epoxy Composites. The Pacific Journal of Science and Technology, 13, 463-468.
[1] Campbell, F.C. (2010) Introduction to Composite Material. Structural Composite Materials, 1, 1-29. [2] Jan, G. (1990) Composite Material Research Laboratory. Advanced Material Science, 1, 61-82. [3] Medraj, M. (2001) Composite Material. MECH. 321 Lecture, Mechanical Engineering Department, Concordia University, Montreal, 1-19. [4] Chawla, K.K. (1998) Composite Materials: Science and Engineering. Springer-Verlag, New York, 380-404.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-2966-5 [5] David, R. (2000) Introduction to Composite Materials. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, 4, 2, 1-7. [6] Ebert, L.J. and Wright, P.K. (1999) Mechanical Aspects of the Interface. In: Metcalfe, A.G., Ed., Interfaces in Polymer Matrix Composites, Academic Press, New York, 285. [7] Gordon, J.E. (2012) The New Science of strong Materials. Penguin Books Limited. [8] Clyne, T.W. and Withers, P.J. (1993) An Introduction to Composites. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 43-64.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511623080 [9] Jyoti, P.D. and Mishra, S.C. (2012) Processing and Properties of Natural Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composite. Journal of Materials, 10, Article ID: 297213. [10] Myrtha, K., Holia, O. and Anung, S. (2007) Physical and Mechanical Properties of Natural Fibers Filled Polypropylene Composites and Its Recycle. Journal of Biological Sciences, 7, 393-396. [11] Mallick, P.K. (2007) Fiber Reinforced Composites. CRC Press, London and New York, 1-15.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1201/9781420005981 [12] Dieter, H.M. (2004) Improving the Impact Strength of Natural Fiber Reinforced Composites by Specifically Designed Materials and Process Parameters. Irish Naturalist Journal, 24, 31 -38. [13] Panneerdhass, P., Gnanavelbabu, A. and Rajkumar, K. (2014) Mechanical Properties of Luffa Fiber and Ground Nut Reinforced Epoxy Polymer Hybred Composites. Procedia Engineering, 97, 2042-2051. [14] Imoisili, P.E., Ibegbulam, C.M. and Adejugbe, T.I. (2012) Effect of Concentration of Coconut Shell Ash on the Tensile Properties of Epoxy Composites. The Pacific Journal of Science and Technology, 13, 463-468.