Mechanical Properties of Luffa Fiber and Ground nut Reinforced Epoxy Polymer Hybrid Composites

This paper presents the study of the tensile, compressive, flexural, impact energy and water absorption characteristics of the luffa fiber and Ground nut reinforced epoxy polymer hybrid composites. Luffa fiber and Ground nut reinforced epoxy resin matrix composites have been developed by hand lay-up technique with luffa fiber treated conditions and Ground nut with different volume fraction of fibers as in 1:1 ratio (10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50%). Effects of volume fraction on the Tensile, Compressive, Flexural, Impact strength were studied. SEM analysis on the composite materials was performed. Tensile strength varies from 10.35 MPa to 19.31 MPa, compressive strength varies from 26.66 MPa to 52.22 MPa, flexural strength varies from 35.75 MPa to 58.95 MPa and impact energy varies from 0.6 Joules to 1.3 Joules, as a function of fiber volume fraction. The optimum mechanical properties were obtained at 40% of fiber volume fraction of treated fiber composites. Fractures surface of the composite shows the pull out and de-bonding of fiber is occurred. (C) 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.