Enhancing Mechanical and Dielectric Properties of Luffa Fiber-Reinforced Epoxy Composites Through Varied SiC Filler Volumes

This research systematically studies the impact of varying Silicon Carbide (SiC) filler volumes (0–10%) on the mechanical as well as dielectric properties of luffa/epoxy/SiC composites. The experimental analysis revealed compelling results for key mechanical properties. At a SiC filler volume of 10%, the tensile strength increased to 68 MPa ± 6 (standard deviation), representing a significant improvement. Similarly, the flexural strength was enhanced, reaching 90 ± 7. The composite density displayed a gradual rise from 1.25 g/cm3 ± 0.05 to 1.45 g/cm3 ± 0.09 with increasing SiC content. The Shore D hardness demonstrated an increasing trend, reaching 98 ± 8. Conversely, the impact strength exhibited a marginal reduction of 50 J/m2 ± 9. However, the interlaminar shear strength showed a consistent improvement, reaching 26 MPa ± 3.5 at 10% SiC filler volume. Simultaneously, dielectric property assessments revealed noteworthy trends. The dielectric constant increased proportionally with the SiC filler volume, reaching 4.0 ± 0.6 at 10% volume fraction. The dielectric strength exhibited incremental improvement, reaching 20 ± 3. The insulation resistance increased substantially from 500 GΩ ± 50 at 0% SiC to 700 GΩ ± 90 at 10% of SiC. These comprehensive findings provide valuable insights for tailoring luffa/epoxy/SiC composites with specific mechanical as well as dielectric attributes, addressing diverse applications in electronic and mechanical applications.