Mechanical Properties of Chopped Randomly Oriented Epoxy - Luffa Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composite

摘要

This paper presents the study of the tensile, compressive, flexural, impact energy and water absorption characteristics of the luffa fiber reinforced expoxy polymer composites. Luffa fiber reinforced epoxy resin matrix composites have been developed by hand lay-up technique with varying process parameters such as fiber condition (treated and untreated), chopped randomly oriented and different volume fraction (30%, 40% and 50%). Tensile strength varies from 9 MPa to 20 MPa, compressive strength varies from 75 MPa to 105 MPa, flexural strength varies from 15 MPa to 140 MPa and impact energy varies from 0.25 Joules to 1.45 Joules, as a function of fiber volume fraction. The optimum mechanical properties were obtained at 40% of fiber volume fraction of treated fiber composites. Fracture surface of the composite shows that pull out and de-bonding of fiber is occurred.