Impact of prosopis juliflora pods on mechanical, water absorption and bio-degradation characteristics of Indian laurel ( ficus microcarpa ) fiber reinforced composites

Abstract Natural fiber composites (NFCs) have attracted considerable interest due to their sustainability, environmental advantages, lightweight nature, and cost effectiveness. Indian laurel fiber, a largely underutilized natural material, and Prosopis juliflora pod (PJP), an agricultural waste product, were the focus of this study. The research aimed to develop a novel NFC by combining these two materials, utilizing the hand layup method for fabrication. This study investigated performance of composites made from Indian laurel fiber and PJP powder with varying fiber and filler concentrations. Mechanical tests revealed that E30IL/10PJP formulation exhibited the highest performance, achieving 60 MPa in tensile strength, 120 MPa in flexural strength, and 12 MPa in impact strength. Water absorption and biodegradation tests showed that increasing Indian laurel fiber content increased water uptake and accelerated mass loss, with E50IL absorbing up to 40% water and experiencing over 65% mass loss after 60 days. Conversely, the addition of PJP reduced water absorption and degradation rates, with E30IL/30PJP showing the lowest water uptake (10%) and mass loss (30%). Overall, the E30IL/10PJP composite offered the best balance of mechanical strength, durability, and environmental stability, making it a promising candidate for sustainable applications.