LAUSR

Electron beam irradiation on natural fiber has an objective of delineating the highly crystalline cellulose structure of the fiber to increase their reactivity during fabrication of composite materials. In this study, high-energy electron beam of 6 MeV generated from medical linear accelerator is irradiated on fibers of luffa cylindrica (LC). The LC fibers are agricultural waste of the local regions and are plush in cellulose (60%). The X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern of irradiated LC fiber revealed destruction of the glycosidic linkage and crystallinity of the fiber resulting in 38% crystallinity index. Fourier transform of infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) study indicates formation of carboxylic groups and free radicals in the backbone of cellulose chain. Hydrophilicity which is a major drawback of natural fibers is eliminated as indicated in thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) curve thus can enhance the fiber–matrix adhesion. Therefore, the findings of XRD, TGA and FTIR are promising and make the irradiated LC fiber suitable to be used as reinforcement in composite material.