Characterization and comparative study on chemically treated luffa fiber as reinforcement for polylactic acid bio-composites

Luffa reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) bio-composites were prepared and examined. The luffa surface was treated using three chemicals, i.e., sodium hydroxide, 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, acetic anhydride, which enhanced compatibility with PLA. Mechanical testing done on the chemically modified PLA bio-composites, tensile, flexural, hardness, thermal. Infrared spectral functional group morphological analyses performed each sample. results showed increases in tensile flexural strength of 7.1% 6.9% for 5.7% 1.4% silane, 4.3% 0.4% acetylation, respectively, especially to surface-treated samples at 15 wt.% fiber volume, a decrease water uptake (%). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed that chemical treatments successful removal lignin hemicellulose structures, cause structure be rough. Smooth surfaces observed through SEM images. Thermal stability due improved interfacial bonding between PLA, eliminating other constituents impurities. Moreover, analysis matrix.