Morphology and damage mechanism of lignocellulosic fruit fibers reinforced polymer composites: a comparative study

This study exhibits and compares the damage mechanism and mechanical properties of the polymer composites reinforced with dry and matured fruit fibers obtained from Cocos nucifera and Luffa cylindrica fruits respectively. Composite samples are prepared using polyester resin and different weight proportion of these fibers ranging from 10 to 40 wt% in intervals of 10 wt% with random fiber orientation involving hand layup technique. Studies prove that the composites containing 30 wt% of the fibers exhibit optimum mechanical properties. The maximum flexural strength and impact strength of the Cocos nucifera composites obtained is 27 MPa and 12.22 kJ/m(2) whereas the corresponding values are 30 MPa and 24.88 kJ/m(2) for Luffa cylindrica composites. Load versus Deflection curve obtained for Cocos nucifera composites exhibit non-catastrophic failure with increased percent elongation showing the slow and steady ductile failure. On the contrary, Luffa cylindrica composites exhibit catastrophic failure with sudden abrupt brittle fracture. Fractured samples are examined to show the failure mode through scanning electron microscope and are reported. [GRAPHICS] .