A STUDY OF THE DEVELOPMENT, CHARACTERIZATION AND DEGRADABILITY OF LUFFA GOURD FIBRE FILLED UNSATURATED POLYESTER COMPOSITES

Abstract

 The composites were produced using several percentage fibre loadings (0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 weight percent). Luffa gourd fibre was used as the reinforcing fibre in unsaturated Polyester resin; composites sheets were prepared through hand mixing method using a fabricated glass mould. Tensile, flexural, impact tests and degradability of luffa gourd fibre filled unsaturated polyester composites were determined. The results attained for mechanical tests indicated that the optimum values and significant improvement were at 30 wt % fibre loading. The modulus of luffa gourd fibre filled unsaturated polyester composite reached maximum and minimum values at 50 wt % and 10 wt % fibre loadings respectively, however, the tensile strength of luffa gourd fibre filled unsaturated polyester composites were at maximum and minimum values at 30 wt % fibre loading and 50 wt % fibre loading with 18.2 MPa and 11.9 MPa respectively, and flexural strength test shows that the maximum and minimum values were also at 30 wt % and 50 wt % fibre loading with 25.14 MPa and 15.85 MPa respectively. The results of the impact strength indicated that increase in fibre loading from 10 wt % fibre loading to 30 wt % fibre loading produced maximum strength at 30 wt % fibre loading with 3.9 MPa. The results for soil burial show the weight loss of luffa gourd fibre composites at varying fibre loading as a function of degradation time, the results signify that sample weight loss increases with increase in fibre loading from 10 wt % to 50 wt % fibre loading and also indicating increase in biodegradability with increase in the number of days for soil burial.