Natural Fiber Reinforced PLA Filament Using Luffa Cylindrica

Abstract

Fused Deposition Modeling commonly uses polylactic acid due to its biodegradability and ease of processing; however, PLA is brittle and has limited mechanical strength, which restricts its use in load-bearing applications. Reinforcing PLA with natural fibers offers a sustainable approach to enhance mechanical performance. Luffa cylindrica, a lightweight lignocellulosic fiber, shows potential as a reinforcement, although its application in additive manufacturing is limited. This study develops and evaluates Luffa cylindrica reinforced PLA composite filaments for FDM printing. Dried luffa fibers were subjected to alkaline (NaOH) treatment, followed by drying, grinding, and pulverization using a 7000 RPM pulverizer, and sieving to obtain uniform powder. The powder was mixed with PLA pellets at 2% and 3% weight fractions and extruded into composite filaments. Standard specimens were printed using FDM and tested for tensile, compression, flexural, and shear properties. The results showed improved tensile and compressive strength at 3% reinforcement, while 2% fiber exhibited better flexural and shear behavior. The study demonstrates the potential of Luffa cylindrica as a sustainable reinforcement for PLA composites in additive manufacturing.