Acoustic and mechanical properties of luffa fiber-reinforced biocomposites

Abstract

This chapter presents an overview of acoustic and mechanical behaviors of luffa fiber reinforced biocomposites. A growing number of studies are examining the composites of biodegradable fibers such as flax, hemp, kenaf and luffa due to the adverse effects of chemical materials on nature. The low cost and superior acoustic and acceptable mechanical properties of biocomposites make them very attractive for practical applications such as sound and vibration isolation. However, the acoustic and mechanical characteristics of biocomposites and their dynamic behaviors should be fully determined before considering them for practical applications. In this chapter, acoustic properties, such as sound absorption and transmission loss, and mechanical properties, such as damping and elasticity of luffa fiber reinforced composites, are presented. The variations in acoustic and mechanical properties due to different samples and manufacturing process are explored.