Luffa Cylindrica as a durable biofiber reinforcement for epoxy systems

Luffa Cylindrica (LC) is the dried fruit of a sponge-type plant belonging to Curcubitacea family. Recent advancements in hierarchical and lightweight structures have aroused interest this natural fibrous material for illustrating an extraordinary multi-porous architecture high anisotropy low density. To extent its biodegradable nature, such structure potentially apt replace conventional porous-like composites low-energy absorbing reinforcing applications. In order investigate candidacy as long-term sustainable reinforcement, LC layer impregnated with epoxy resin (ER) system subjected tensile creep tests within linear viscoelastic regime. Specimens loaded 30% weight fraction fibers are tested at four stress levels corresponding 5%, 8%, 10% 15% static strength ?u composite. The response LC/ER composite found improved respect that pure polymer. This improvement reflected strain compliance decreased by 30%. results subsequently probed means four–parameter (Burger) analytical model gain insight on behavior.