Effect of chemical treatments of fibre surface on mechanical properties and wear rate of Beerakaya (Luffa acutangula) reinforced epoxy polymer composites

It is fascinating to note that natural fibre composites are gaining popularity as competing materials to meet engineering material requirements. This research focuses on enhancing the mechanical characteristics of Luffa acutangula (Beerakaya) fibre composites by surface alteration of fibres through chemical treatments. Three chemical treatments—NaOH, KOH, and stearic acid—were used to treat the fibres. The mechanical properties of the resulting composites were compared based on single-layer, double-layer, and triple-layer fibre reinforcements. The results show that triple-layer fibre composites exhibit better mechanical properties, with stearic acid treatment yielding the maximum tensile strength of 36.965 MPa, a flexural strength of 81.4 MPa, and a compression strength of 47 MPa. KOH treatment yields slightly lower performance than stearic acid and NaOH treatments. NaOH treatment shows significant improvement in impact strength and hardness of the material, with the maximum impact strength of 2.086 J/cm² and a hardness of 89.55. The research indicates that by utilizing triple fibre layers and applying chemical treatments to the fibre surfaces, Luffa acutangula fibre composites' mechanical characteristics can be enhanced. Additionally, the fractured surface analysis of treated fibre composites was evaluated using scanning electron microscopy. Overall, this research provides the basis for an environmentally friendly natural fibre composite and could even be a sustainable alternative to existing synthetic materials.