Evaluation of surface pre-treatments on the surface characteristics modifications in sponge gourd (Luffa Cylindrica) fibers

Owing to unique characteristics such as lower weight, biodegradability, etc, of natural fibers and as well as increasing attention being given towards renewable material sources demands the investigations particularly for the growth of polymer-based composites. Luffa Cylindrica fiber is one such fiber, whose complete characterizations are required to increase its applications such as in tribological application. This study presents the physical and tensile properties along with its chemical and morphological aspects of Luffa fibers with and without chemical surface pre-treatments. Chemical surface pre-treatments employed in this work are viz sodium hydroxide, silane and calcium hydroxide. The results shows that the chemical pre-treatments improved the physical (diameter and surface roughness) and tensile properties as well as morphology and chemical composition of the fibers suggesting suitability of these fibers in engineering application. (paper)