Mechanical and Environmental Performance of Curaua Fiber Composites: A Sustainable Alternative to Wood and PVC

Year : 2025 | Volume : 13 | Special Issue 02 | Page : 467 477
    By

    G Ashwin Prabhu,

  • Prashant Narayan Nagare,

  • M L Brabin Nivas,

  • Akkasali Taranath,

  • Kiran C H,

  • J Jesumanen,

  • T Gavaskar,

  • Ganesh M,

  • Mohammed Akram K,

  • Karthikeyan S,

  1. Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, St. Joseph’s College of Engineering, Old Mahabalipuram Road, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
  2. Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Amrutvahini College of Engineering, Pune – Nashik Hwy, Ghulewadi, Sangamner, Ahmednagar, Maharshtra, India
  3. Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stella Mary’s College of Engineering, Aruthenganvilai, Kalluketti Junction, Azhikkal Rd, Tamil Nadu, India
  4. Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ballari Institute of Technology and Management, Ballari Gnana Gangothri Campus, Ballari-Hospete Road, Near Allipur, Ballari, Karnataka, India
  5. Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Alva’s Institute of Engineering and Technology, Solapur Mangalore Highway, Shobhavana Campus MIJAR, Moodbidri, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India
  6. Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, DMI Engineering college, Kumarapuram, Aralvaimozhi, Tamil Nadu, India
  7. Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, St. Joseph’s College of Engineering, Old Mahabalipuram Road, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
  8. Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, St. Joseph’s College of Engineering, Old Mahabalipuram Road, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
  9. UG Scholar, Department of Mechanical Engineering, St. Joseph’s College of Engineering, Old Mahabalipuram Road, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
  10. UG Scholar, Department of Mechanical Engineering, St. Joseph’s College of Engineering, Old Mahabalipuram Road, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

This study examines the mechanical behavior of curaua fiber composites, comparing their performance to other materials like wood and PVC. Curaua fibers, sourced from the Brazilian Amazon, demonstrate superior mechanical properties, making them a promising alternative for sustainable composite materials. The composites were fabricated using various methods and subjected to tensile, flexural, and impact tests. Results show that curaua fibers exhibit an average tensile strength of 30.7 MPa, outperforming wood (27 MPa) and matching PVC (30 MPa). Similarly, curaua fibers have a higher strain capability (5.24%) compared to wood (4.2%) and PVC (5%). In flexural tests, curaua fibers achieve an ultimate load of 0.148 kN and a maximum displacement of 16.47 mm, comparable to PVC and superior to wood. Impact tests further reveal the excellent energy absorption of curaua fibers, with an average impact resistance of 3.9 J/mm², surpassing wood (3.5 J/mm²) and aligning closely with PVC (3.7 J/mm²). Beyond their mechanical advantages, curaua fibers offer significant environmental benefits due to their natural, biodegradable, and renewable nature. This positions them as a sustainable and eco-friendly choice for applications in automotive, construction, and other lightweight industries. Their performance also approaches that of synthetic fibers like glass-E, making curaua fibers a competitive option for structural applications under light to moderate loading conditions. These findings highlight curaua fiber composites as a viable replacement for less sustainable materials in diverse engineering and industrial fields.

Keywords: Renewable, reinforcement, epoxy, resin, vibration, poly-vinyl chloride, hardener, resistance, composite.

[This article belongs to Special Issue under section in Journal of Polymer and Composites (jopc)]

How to cite this article:
G Ashwin Prabhu, Prashant Narayan Nagare, M L Brabin Nivas, Akkasali Taranath, Kiran C H, J Jesumanen, T Gavaskar, Ganesh M, Mohammed Akram K, Karthikeyan S. Mechanical and Environmental Performance of Curaua Fiber Composites: A Sustainable Alternative to Wood and PVC. Journal of Polymer and Composites. 2025; 13(02):467-477.
How to cite this URL:
G Ashwin Prabhu, Prashant Narayan Nagare, M L Brabin Nivas, Akkasali Taranath, Kiran C H, J Jesumanen, T Gavaskar, Ganesh M, Mohammed Akram K, Karthikeyan S. Mechanical and Environmental Performance of Curaua Fiber Composites: A Sustainable Alternative to Wood and PVC. Journal of Polymer and Composites. 2025; 13(02):467-477. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/jopc/article=2025/view=206186


Browse Figures

References

  1. Singh, S., Kumar, P., & Jain, S. K. (2013). An experimental and numerical investigation of mechanical properties of glass fiber reinforced epoxy composites. Advanced Materials Letters, 4(7), 567-572.
  2. Lokesh P, Surya Kumari TSA, Gopi R, Babu Loganathan G (2020) A study on mechanical properties of bamboo fiber reinforced polymer composite. Materials Today: Proceedings 22:897–903.
  3. Almeida JHS Jr, Amico SC, Botelho EC, Amado FDR (2013) Hybridization effect on the mechanical properties of curaua/glass fiber composites. Composites Part B: Engineering 55:492–497.
  4. Costa UO, Nascimento LFC, Garcia JM, Bezerra WBA, Fabio da Costa GF, Luz FS da, Pinheiro WA, Monteiro SN (2020) Mechanical properties of composites with graphene oxide functionalization of either epoxy matrix or curaua fiber reinforcement. Journal of Materials Research and Technology 9:13390–13401.
  5. Amorim F do C, Souza JFB de, Reis JML dos (2018) The Quasi-static and Dynamic Mechanical Behavior of Epoxy Matrix Composites Reinforced with Curaua Fibers. Mat Res. https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-5373-mr-2017-0828.
  6. Prabhu, G.A., Selvam, R. & Kumar, K.M. Enhancing the Mechanical Properties of Basalt Fiber and Stainless Steel Wire Mesh Composites Incorporating Fire Retardants Through Response Surface Methodology Optimization. Fibers Polym 25, 1443–1455 (2024).
  7. de Oliveira FH, Helfer AL, Amico SC (2012) Mechanical Behavior of Unidirectional Curaua Fiber and Glass Fiber Composites. Macromolecular Symposia 319:83–92.
  8. Subramanian PM, Balamurugan L, Ashwin Prabhu G. Novel approaches in developing sustainable and cost-effective semi-active suspension systems for smart vehicles—A review. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part E: Journal of Process Mechanical Engineering. 2024;0(0).
  9. Souza LO de, Souza LMS de, de Andrade Silva F (2021) Mechanics of natural curauá textile-reinforced concrete. Magazine of Concrete Research 73:135–146.
  10. Stalin, B., Arivukkarasan, S., & Prabhu, G. A. (2015). Microstructure and mechanical properties evaluation of aluminium matrix reinforced with tungsten carbide and silicon carbide. International Journal of Applied Engineering Research, 10(55), 3994-3999.
  11. Amorim FC, Souza JFB, Reis JML (2018) Effects of Fiber Treatment on the Properties of Epoxy Curaua-Reinforced Composites. Advanced Structured Materials 159–168.
  12. Prabhu, G. Ashwin, et al. “Static Analysis of Aluminum 6063 Alloy for Steering Knuckle Application in Student Formula Car.” IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering. Vol. 923. No. 1. IOP Publishing, 2020.
  13. Cardoso PHM, Bastian FL, Thiré RMSM (2014) Curaua Fibers/Epoxy Laminates with Improved Mechanical Properties: Effects of Fiber Treatment Conditions. Macromolecular Symposia 344:63–70.
  14. Ornaghi HL Jr, da Silva HSP, Zattera AJ, Amico SC (2012) Dynamic mechanical properties of curaua composites. J of Applied Polymer Sci. https://doi.org/10.1002/app.36378.
  15. Gomes A, Matsuo T, Goda K, Ohgi J (2007) Development and effect of alkali treatment on tensile properties of curaua fiber green composites. Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing 38:1811–1820.
  16. Vidal SD, do Carmo Amorim F, Brandão de Souza JF, Reis JM (2022) Modeling the mechanical behavior of epoxy Curaua reinforced composites. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part C: Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science 236:8049–8056.
  17. Souza LO de, Souza LMS de, de Andrade Silva F (2020) Mechanical autogenous recovery and crack sealing of natural curauá textile reinforced concrete. Construction and Building Materials 235:117476.
  18. Coelho de Carvalho LM, Dal Toé Casagrande M (2019) Mechanical Behaviour of Reinforced Sand with Natural Curauá Fibers through Full Scale Direct Shear Tests. E3S Web Conf 92:12003.
  19. C Murugapoopathi, S., Ashwin Prabhu, G., Chandrasekar, G. et al. Fabrication and Characterisation of Saw Dust Polymer Composite. J. Inst. Eng. India Ser. D (2023).
  20. osta U, Nascimento L, Almeida Bezerra W, de Oliveira Aguiar V, Pereira A, Monteiro S, Pinheiro W (2021) Dynamic Mechanical Behavior of Graphene Oxide Functionalized Curaua Fiber-Reinforced Epoxy Composites: A Brief Report. Polymers 13:1897.
  21. Martel W de NDR, Salgado IP, Silva FA (2020) The Influence of Fiber Treatment on the Morphology, Water Absorption Capacity and Mechanical Behavior of Curauá Fibers. Journal of Natural Fibers 19:642–657.
  22. Cavalcanti DKK, Banea MD, Neto JSS, Lima RAA, da Silva LFM, Carbas RJC (2019) Mechanical characterization of intralaminar natural fibre-reinforced hybrid composites. Composites Part B: Engineering 175:107149.
  23. Zukowski B, dos Santos Mendonça YG, Tavares IJK, Toledo Filho RD (2022) Mechanical Properties of Hybrid PVA–Natural Curaua Fiber Composites. Materials 15:2808.
  24. Teixeira RS, Santos SF, Christoforo AL, Payá J, Savastano H Jr, Lahr FAR (2019) Impact of content and length of curauá fibers on mechanical behavior of extruded cementitious composites: Analysis of variance. Cement and Concrete Composites 102:134–144.
  25. Sankar K, Constâncio Trindade AC, Kriven WM (2022) The influence of alkaline treatment on the mechanical performance of geopolymer composites reinforced with Brazilian malva and curaua fibers. J Am Ceram Soc 106:339–353.
  26. Teixeira FP, Cardoso DCT, de Andrade Silva F (2021) On the shear behavior of natural curauá fabric reinforced cement-based composite systems. Engineering Structures 246:113054.
  27. Araujo JR, Mano B, Teixeira GM, Spinacé MAS, De Paoli M-A (2010) Biomicrofibrilar composites of high density polyethylene reinforced with curauá fibers: Mechanical, interfacial and morphological properties. Composites Science and Technology 70:1637–1644.
  28. Rodrigues L, Silva R, Aquino E (2012) Effect of accelerated environmental aging on mechanical behavior of curaua/glass hybrid composite. Journal of Composite Materials 46:2055–2064
  29. Prabhu, G.A., Tembhekar, T.D., Gopal, V. et al. Utilizing Machine Learning for Optimizing Composite Materials Derived from Leather Trimming and HDPE Waste. J. Inst. Eng. India Ser. D (2025).
  30. d’Almeida AnaLFS, Melo Filho JA, d’Almeida JRM (2012) Characterization of Raw and Treated Curaua Fibers to be Applied as Reinforcement in Composites. MSF 730–732:283–288.
  31. Saba N, Jawaid M, Sultan MTH (2019) An overview of mechanical and physical testing of composite materials. Mechanical and Physical Testing of Biocomposites, Fibre-Reinforced Composites and Hybrid Composites 1–12.
Special Issue Subscription Original Research
Volume 13
Special Issue 02
Received 01/01/2025
Accepted 07/02/2025
Published 20/02/2025
Publication Time 50 Days
231

Login


My IP

PlumX Metrics