A study on mechanical thermal and water absorption behaviours of luffa epoxy nanocomposites using tio2 nanoparticles and activated carbon as fillers

Abstract

Natural fibres reinforcement NFR alone cannot be effectively replace environmentally harmful synthetic materials in the wide area of application Hence researches are being carried out with a motive to understand the use of different nano particles along with natural fibre to enhance the properties and stability of the natural fibre polymer composites The mechanical properties and thermal properties of NFR polymer composite have been improved by the incorporation of different nanopartices like nanoclay SiO2 TiO2 Al2O3 ZnO SiC carbon nanotube etc Based on this background the research work has been carried out to explorer the mechanical and thermal properties of luffa reinforced epoxy nanocomposites The NaOH fibre treatment increases the tensile strength flexural strength compressive strengthand impact strength respectively and regarding fibre volume moderate volume of luffa 40 shows promising results It is found that treated MFR Mat Fibre Reinforced 40 vol composites have 13 7 7 14 and 163 6 higher tensile strength compressive strength and impact strength compared to untreated composites respectively And 40 vol of treated MFR composite acquired 47 and 75 1 of improved tensile strength compared to 30 and 50 vol of MFR composites respectively Flexural strength of treated MFR composites gets increased with increase of fibre loading The hardness percentage of water absorption and thickness swelling of composite increase in the order of particle fibre followed by single fiber and then mat fibre reinforced composites The onset temperature of luffa epoxy composites was observed in between the temperature of 341 4 oC to 387 1 oC irrespective of alkaline treatment and dimension of fibres. newline