A review: Surface treatments, production techniques, mechanical properties and characteristics of Luffa cylindrica bio composites

Abstract

The need for alternative eco-friendly and sustainable materials has forced many researchers to focus on composites made using natural fibers and biodegradable polymer matrices. In addition to that, these natural fibers are low in cost, have good mechanical properties, biodegradability, and require less production energy. Therefore, this review paper will focus on one of the natural fibers known as Luffa cylindrica (LC) by understanding all the natural fibers' benefits. A detailed overview is provided for commonly used fiber surface treatments, surface treatment techniques, and processing techniques for various LC composites from numerous other researches. Furthermore, this paper will also discuss the characteristics, mechanical properties, and water absorption properties of LC composites before and after surface treatments, where a comprehensive understanding of LC reinforced polymer composites' behavior has been reviewed.

Influence of Silanization Treatment of Sponge Gourd (Luffa cylindrica) Fibers on the Reinforcement of Polyester Composites: A Brief Report

“…The bands at 901 and 1157 cm −1 (Figure 4a) confirm the binding of cellulose to silane, as well as the stretching of the bands that are visible at 1023 cm −1 . The bands at 1238 to 1319 cm −1 also confirm the binding of Si-O-Si and Si-O-cellulose [37].…”

“…The ratio of 0.83 has a relationship with the cellulose, hemicellulose, and pectin. These results point to a higher proportion of these components after the treatment [37].…”

“…The ratio of 0.83 has a relationship with the cellulose, hemicellulose, and pectin. These results point to a higher proportion of these components after the treatment [37]. The oxygen-to-combination ratio (O/C) = 0.80 provides information about the proportion of the composition on the surface; this value indicates that the surface has a lower proportion of lignin, since is O/C ratio is 0.35.…”

“…From Figure 6, it is possible to observe that the degradation of the sponge gourd fiber, both in natura and silanized, occurred in 3 stages. The stage showed a ~10% loss of mass from 45 • C to approximately 102 • C. This degradation was due to water evaporation [37]. The second stage occurred between 261 and 337 • C, with a mass loss of ~26%, which was related to the breakdown of hemicellulose in the fiber and the cellulose glycosidic bond [36].…”