Characterisation of alkali-treated luffa sponge fiber bundles

• 1、Anhui agricultural university, school of forestry and landscape, anhui hefei, 230036

Abstract：The advancement in science and technology has led to luffa sponge (LS) being widely used as a natural materials in industrial application as its polyporous structure and light texture. In order to enlarge the utility of LS fibers as reinforcement of lightweight composite materials, the fibers were treated with 5% sodium hydroxide and 5% hydrogen peroxide (5%NaOH-5%H2O2 ), 10% sodium hydroxide and 20% acetic acid (10% NaOH-20% CH3COOH ) and 18% sodium hydroxide and 1.6% carbamide (18%NaOH-1.6% CO(NH2)2). The untreated and alkali-treated fibers were characterized and morphologically analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The moisture regain and tensile properties of untreated and alkali-treated LS fiber bundles were measured in accordance with ASTM standards. The results showed that the alkali treatment with 10% NaOH-20% CH3COOH and 18%NaOH-1.6% CO(NH2)2 significantly improved the mechanical properties of LS fiber bundles. The maximum strength was found with 10% NaOH-20% CH3COOH treated fiber bundles. Additionally, the data also indicated that the average diameter became uniform with the decrease in diameter and mass, and the moisture absorption of LS fiber bundles decreased with the alkali treatment.

Keywords： fiber composites alkali-treated LS fiber bundles mechanical properties moisture regain